It is an age-old question. What is a great, fulfilling, all-encompassing activity that the entire family can do together?
The social, mental and spiritual health of family activity has been replaced by the cell phone. How often do you see a family of four walk into a restaurant, take their places, pop out their cell phones … and totally ignore everyone at the table?
Thankfully, the game of golf is waging a war against that kind of behavior. And, especially since Covid, winning the war.
According to the National Golf Foundation, 26.6 million Americans played golf on a course in 2023, a net increase of one million golfers. That was the highest increase in any year since 2001 – the height of the Tiger Woods phenomena.
Statistics showed:
- Rounds are up
- On-course participation is up
- Off-course participation is up
- Female engagement is at a high-water mark
- Beginners are at record levels
And, as a result, family golf is way up. Parents and children have found a common bond, one that is not often seen in today’s America. Family golf is a good trend.
For years, the private country club led the way in promoting family golf. After all, spend a large amount of money on a club membership and there may not be enough left to do anything else.
“I always thought we were a pretty active family golf club,” admits Joey Pohle, director of golf at Blue Bell Country Club. “But, once COVID hit, the family golf scene exploded.”
Junior golf, which saw the largest increase of any segment during the COVID years, served as a natural catalyst for family golf. Suddenly, the sport was recognized as a “cool” activity by the kids. And the rest of the family followed.
“The PGA Junior League has had a big influence,” added Pohle. “We have two teams at Blue Bell. It’s a program that has really taken off. The kids love the team experience, plus they get to play other clubs.”
The most significant outgrowth is the PGA Family Cup – a family scramble event fostered by the Philadelphia Section PGA. “We were one of the pilot clubs for the program,” explained Pohle.
“Now we just do it on our own, three for four times a year. Promoting family time on the golf course is a home run for everyone.”
But promoting family golf on the public courses is a tougher task.
The number of families that can afford to put out $10,000 to $15,000 a year on country club dues – plus all of the extras – is still a miniscule portion of the American population.
For years, cultivating family golf on the public courses set up a clash of cultures. Junior golfers had to fight with the large majority of adult golfers for tee times. During high-demand/low supply years, the courses were packed.
Golf course architect Ed Shearon, also part-owner of Raven’s Claw Golf Club in Pottstown, remembers those years well. He grew up in Whitemarsh Township and caught the golf bug at an early age.
“When I was age 12 through 15, I had a $50 junior membership at (now defunct) Center Square Golf Club,” Shearon recalls. “During the summer we would pile in a van in the morning and one of our moms would drive us to the course and drop us off. We would be there all day until one of the other moms came to pick us up. We would play 54 holes.”
As the kids became more proficient, they joined in matches with many of the adult members.
“Golf teaches you a lot of very good traits – perseverance, determination, accountability, honesty,” said Shearon.
Jumping to the modern day, Shearon and his staff at Raven’s Claw certainly do their part to make junior golf and family golf accessible.
“Lower Perkiomen High School uses Raven’s Claw as its home course,” Shearon reported. “Also, Ursinus College practices here. We have hosted PIAA and Catholic League Girls’ Championships. The Julian Krinsky Golf Camp is held here.
“Most important, my daughter-in-law Rachel Shearon, is executive director of Women’s Golf Gives Back. They started a program on Sundays where, if a parent pays regular price, the child plays for free. We get a lot of participation in that.”
The newest segment to contribute to the family golf scene has been the explosion of virtual golf at off-course locations. National companies like TopGolf and Pop Shot. These golf-and-entertainment facilities have spread across the country rapidly.
Providing even a greater immediate conversion to traditional on-course golf is the proliferation of facilities that utilize simulators. Steve Graves is the owner of Play-a-Round Golf, which opened in Malvern in 2006, then added another location if Ardmore. The original premise was providing an option for playing golf on rainy days, in the winter or at night. Soon, growth of the game became an important extra.
“We didn’t really sink our teeth into junior golf until about 2012,” explained Graves. “We brought a golf pro on board and started to develop junior camps, as well as classes. We would pile the kids in vans and take them to nearby courses like Westover, Raven’s Claw, Shannondell and Jeffersonville. The next thing we noticed was that they started coming back to Play-a-Round golf with their parents and playing together.
“We started hosting birthday parties, family reunions and events that spanned all age groups. The next thing you know, they had enough confidence to take their golf from an indoor situation to the golf course.”
