So What Are We Waiting For?

by BGCC Staff on October 11, 2010

I keep hearing there are several studies being done and/or have just completed showing golfers are looking for places online to socialize. So What Are They Waiting For?

Could It Possibly be they…

Many just are not sure where to go to keep from being hornswoggled into some deal someone else thinks is good for them or join one of the ‘flash in the pan’ schemes prolific to the internet. Even more golfers have yet to come online due to a number of reasons ranging from lack of interest to being lost in the technology knowhow to navigate the web effectively.

There still is this huge lack of Trust factor golfers have about the internet that is inherent to being a golfer. Can you blame them? Golf businesses are still not up to par on using the internet or how to use social media to build trust. Most of the businesses catering to the golfer demographic care nothing about the person, the golfer..just how much money they have in their pocket.

Timidness also plays a part in golfers interest in the internet. It takes a significant commitment from an individual to hold up to the pressure of what seems to those who are timid as many people wanting to intrude on their lifestyle. Many who have just begun the game, or feel their golf game is not of a quality level to be introduced to the public, will withdraw from socializing online. They may be the social butterfly of Twitter and Facebook, but just do not feel their golf game is worthy of mention even though they spend hours each week playing or practicing golf.

Second guessing plays a significant part on how online golfers think. Many think..’Hey, if they can offer me a tee-time for $20 I probably get it for $10 on my own..” Then when they find out they can’t they see the deal as a scam and BAM…their interest in being online is killed. The ‘Second Guesser’ will also look at a site where golfers gather and notice most of the photos of the members are George Clooney and Brittney Spears…or the Titleist logo. Their flight away from trusting these sites is justifiable since many golf sites allow any THING that can manipulate an entry form to join. The fear of the unknown initiates the golfers ‘runaway’ instinct from these sites…can you blame them?

One of the growing reasons I am hearing from most of my real life connections on why they are not online has to do with the ‘Loud Mouth’ syndrome many of the golf industries online reps have been told by the big box marketing firms to use to make a sale. Many former online golfer socialites got tired of the noise generated of golf marketers telling them to ‘Look at this’..or ‘We are the Best..Largest…or whatever”. This moves us right back to the ‘ol Trust’ factor needing to be built by golf business that they are not interested in obtaining.

…Need a Greater Purpose

Of course the reason that is growing like a cancer amongst the golfing population for not coming online..or if they come online to not be interested in anything about golf… has to do with their employment status or business’ financial situation. Even if there was something free or given away online many of the golfing population stricken by the failed economy will pass it by or not even look for these opportunities.

In a few pow-pows I have had with members of the Business Golf Country Club to find out what they feel is the reason many golfers are pulling back on their golf I found the reasons become related with the golfers’ interest in golf changing. The word ‘purpose’ and ‘need another purpose to play golf’ was mentioned several times. Time is a factor stated in many of the discussions and a number of other related issues around how a golfer’s day is filled with non-golf issues all indicating that a golfer’s job or business commitment drove their waning interest in golf.

So, if purpose is what golfers need to get online then purpose is what should be created. Seems like a simple solution to me and I, and my business partners, are going to work to make that happen. What are you doing to help more golfers feel more comfortable with coming online with the rest of us? Let me know how I can help.