Discussions of expanding the game are sort of like discussions of weather: Everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it. Birchwood Farms and its staff are to be commended on a truly great idea.
There are few industry meetings and gatherings we go to that do not touch on the issue of declining golf rounds and fewer golfers. The industry is rife with new tactics to attract more golfers, especially young ones, but there is little evidence that any of it is actually working.
I attended the annual meeting at my club (Birchwood Farms Golf & Country Club in Harbor Springs, Mich.), and they are implementing one of the best ideas I have heard to address this issue. They are creating, by use of forward tees, a par-32, nine-hole course on an existing nine, to accomplish two things: 1) encourage young/new golfers by creating a golf environment that is welcoming and allows them to enjoy the game without feeling like they are encroaching on regular golfers’ time and turf, and 2) give our older players a great golf experience that better suits their current demographic and time.
Here is how they are going to do it:
We have 27 holes and we will take one of our nines to create what amounts to a par 3, by simply moving tees far forward to have an average of 150 yards per hole. But here is where the genius of the idea comes into play: they will reserve the course for that kind of play four days per week. This has the effect of making sure the players, especially the young ones, enjoy the round by playing at their own pace.
I have often taken my grandchildren to golf, but always try to get the last round of the day so I can help the kids, let them take five shots, and explain the strategy without always looking over my shoulder to see if there are golfers behind me who should be allowed to play through, as good manners dictate.
If you want to copy the idea for your course, here is the outline of how it will work at Birchwood Farms:
• One of the three nine-hole courses on the property will be made into a par-32.
• Par and yardage are from the silver tees except on the two par 5s, which will be converted to par 3s
from 100 yards. Tee markers will be set up at that distance.
• The course will be available for play from 3:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and from 4:30 PM on Friday, with the exception of special events.
• Players 12 and younger will not be charged, while those 13 and older will pay a nine-holes-with-cart fee of $12.50—and they must be accompanied by an adult.
• Score cards are available at the pro shop.
• Regular golf play will not be on the executive course during the allotted hours, so players will not feel rushed by other players.
The only thing I would add to this brilliant idea is a spacing of tee times from the normal 10 minutes to 15-20 minutes, so that younger golfers and families are not pushed.
Discussions of expanding the game are sort of like discussions of weather: Everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it. Birchwood Farms and its staff are to be commended on a truly great idea.
Since writing this editorial, I have now played the course with my grandchildren and while it’s an excellent idea, it hasn’t been communicated clearly to the pro shop. When I played, a serious player was behind us, playing from the regular tees. When I let him pass through, I mentioned what this was, and he commented, “I didn’t know it was a par 3.”
Clearly, two things didn’t happen: 1) the pro shop let him out on the course without explaining the new rules, and 2) there were subsequent players playing it as a regular course. This is not what was intended, and defeats the purpose of the plan.
But our club is well-managed and I’m sure this will be fixed. I’ll follow up on all of this at the end of the season.
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