It’s a Five-Ring Circus

It is confirmed; golf has been legitimized and has been accepted into the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. What difference is this going to make?

The pundits are forecasting an immediate upsurge of interest in the game of golf; new players will come out of the wood work; golf courses will see a resurgence of patronage; golf equipment sales will sky-rocket.

Come off it! Let’s be real.    

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said the decision allowed golf to introduce itself to a whole new audience.

“This is a fantastic day for golf,” Pitt said. "The Olympic stage will give golf an unparalleled level of attention and interest and allows us to highlight the benefits golf brings to individuals and the wider community.

“It also represents a real dream for our young golfers and even players who are picking up a club for the first time. Any one of them could be at the beginning of an exciting Olympic journey.”

Australian Ladies Professional Golf CEO Warren Sevil said:

 “Olympic exposure showcases elite sportsmen and women on the world’s biggest stage and will have a far reaching impact on the profile of the sport, particularly with junior development and participation at grass roots level. Women’s development and participation, was a specific consideration of the IOC in determining which sports were included from 2016, and we are now ready to reap the benefits through attracting more juniors, girls in particular, to golf.”

I wonder what these guys are smoking.

Has tennis benefitted from becoming an Olympic sport?  I doubt it.  Interest in tennis revolves around the Grand Slam and Wimbledon.

What about soccer?  It’s the World Cup that gives impetus to the game and excites interest.  The Olympics? ….. Ho Hum!

Golf equipment manufacturers will be going into overdrive to satisfy the hugely increased public demand for new clubs and golf balls.  You’ll need to book a tee time six months in advance.   Private clubs that were struggling will be turning new members away and be awash with cash.

Don’t hold your breath.

The golf industry's problems are far more deep rooted than this. When it comes to issues such as drops in rounds-played, golf courses closing and sagging equipment sales, these are not going to change because Tiger Woods or Phil Mickleson, or Geoff Ogilvy, or Aaron Baddeley, or whoever is the flavour of the month come 2016, will have a chance to add a medal to his already overburdened trophy case.

Sure as eggs, the golf industry will try to make you believe that because golf is to be an Olympic sport this is the turning point and that all of golf’s problems will magically disappear.  Don't you believe them.