In a Tough Economy, Golfers Keep Swinging

If the recession has proved anything, it’s that, when the going gets tough, the tough learn to cook a meal at home, fix their own leaky faucets, and hone their shopping skills at thrift stores instead of trendy boutiques. But, despite the tumbling economy, one “luxury” activity is enjoying a small but unexpected upswing in many parts of the country.

When the going gets tough, the tough, it seems, also play golf.

For many players, golf offers a relatively inexpensive way to relieve stress, connect with other people, and focus on something besides the mortgage, the bills, or the job for a couple of hours. “To someone who doesn’t play, golf may seem like a frivolous indulgence these days,” says PGA Member Greg Rowley, from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. “But players who are facing a ton of stress in their lives have told me that golf is the one thing that’s keeping them sane right now.”

Even people who have never set foot on a golf course before are taking a swing at learning the game. But golf can be intimidating to new players who know little about its rules, language, and culture. “Nobody wants to look like an idiot or get discouraged right away because they don’t know what to do,” says Rowley.

To help both novice and experienced players better understand the game, Rowley recently wrote and published Golf, Naked: The Bare Essentials Revealed. Rowley, who currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Inland Empire Chapter of the PGA and who won the 2008 President’s Award for “growing the game of golf,” says that the book is an information-packed primer on the basics that every player needs to know, from the rules and scoring to equipment, etiquette, and more.

The book not only addresses the fundamentals of the game, but also provides expert advice, tips, and answers to common questions about golf, such as:

• What does a caddie do—and what doesn’t a caddie do?
• What should I wear on the golf course?
• What does “handicap” mean?
• What’s the right way to hold a golf club?
• How can I get my partner, friends, or kids interested in the game?
• How can I at least look like I know what I’m doing so I don’t embarrass myself?

It’s information that is welcomed by newcomers to the sport.

“People shouldn’t be afraid of learning to play golf,” says Rowley. “That’s really the reason I wrote the book. If someone can read about the basics before getting out on the course, he or she will be more confident and relaxed—and that’s what it’s all about.”

Relaxation isn’t the game’s only benefit. The golf course also offers people a way to make new contacts in tough economic times

“Learning to play golf is part of my job search,” says Stephanie Lindquist, a former assistant marketing director. “It’s another way to meet business owners and managers who may be able to help me in my career. I’d rather be on the golf course, improving my game and making connections with people, than standing in line with thousands of other unemployed people at some job fair. And golf helps to keep my spirits up. I’m out exercising, having fun, and learning a skill that will come in handy for the rest of my life.”

Fun is the key message that Rowley hopes to get across with his book. “I tried to write Golf, Naked in a way that teaches people the fundamentals of all aspects of the game and, just as important, that shows how much fun golf really is,” he says. “It’s nice to hear people say that the book has given them the confidence to try something new—something they can continue to enjoy for the rest of their lives.

Rowley’s Three Commandments for Novice Golfers

• Thou shalt not get angry or frustrated too quickly—even the best players routinely miss shots
• Thou shalt not be destructive or obnoxious on the golf course—the fact that you’ve paid to play does not give you the right to ruin the experience for others
• Thou shalt not pretend to know more than thou really knowest about the game—polite questions are always preferable to thoughtless assumptions

About Greg Rowley: Greg Rowley is a PGA-certified Golf Pro and author of the new book Golf, Naked: The Bare Essentials Revealed (Pick-It-Up Publishing; 2009). Learn more about Greg at www.golfnakedbook.com or on his blog at www.golfnakedblog.com.