Tag: panorama-corona

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Panorama

Rounds played rise for fourth consecutive year in Great Britain

The British Open is a major annual sporting highlight in the UK. (Photo: Getty)
The British Open is a major annual sporting highlight in the UK. (Photo: Getty)

A strong end to 2021 kept the annual number of rounds of golf played in Great Britain ahead of 2020 and 2019. 

Continuing growth of golf in the UK


 
As expected, there was some drop off against the peak months in 2020 when lockdowns ended and golf reopened to a groundswell of pent-up demand. In October and December 2020 rounds played were well above equivalent levels in previous years. Although in 2021 quarter four could not maintain the strong 2020 demand levels, it still outperformed previous seasons. When compared against the pre-pandemic period, 2021 surged past equivalent figures from 2019. Against Q4 2019, for example, 2021 was up 40%, contributing to a year-end 17% rise in rounds played against 2019.
 
While it is hard to make exact comparisons with 2020 because of course closures and the subsequent rush for tee times, the comparisons with 2019 do suggest an enduring uptick in the popularity of golf in the UK. 
 
Taking a longer-term view, rounds played have now risen for four consecutive years. 2021’s annual rounds were up 12% against 2020 and 17% against both 2019 and 2018.

Richard Payne, Director of Sports Marketing Surveys welcomed the figures, while noting the potential impact of rising living costs in the year ahead.
 
“First and foremost, it’s great to see rounds played growing, proving that demand for golf is strong as we head into an exciting 2022. Rising costs and inflation are likely to put pressure on leisure budgets this year and so, particularly for those who came into golf during the pandemic, the key question now is how embedded has it become in their sporting and lifestyle DNA. Is it a core hobby that they will continue to play even if the costs of access and equipment rise in line with inflation in other areas of the economy? The strong results for Q4 do suggest golfers continuing to play through the inclement winter months, and so we are optimistic that people will stay in the game.”

Phil Anderson wants to continue to make golf more accessible

 
Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, welcomed the results. He said: “We have seen full-length course user golf participation rise to over 66 million worldwide in 2021 and almost 11 million in Europe. The rounds played for Great Britain in 2021 continue to support the evidence that more golfers are playing more often and realising the benefits of the sport for their physical and mental health. Golf, however, cannot become complacent as a sport and the industry must grasp the opportunity to maintain this interest by offering new and returning golfers the opportunity to stay in the sport and enjoy it at all levels – from traditional forms to new formats.”
 
Sports Marketing Surveys has been tracking rounds played in Great Britain for over 20 years but the monitor continues to evolve. For that reason, Sports Marketing Surveys is formalising a partnership with the Revenue Club to track online golf bookings, and ensure the rounds played monitor gathers as much data from as many different sources as possible.

(Text: Sports Marketing Surveys)

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Fun

How it Started vs. How it’s Going: 5 players then and now

Rory McIlroy signing an Autograph for a very keen young fan in Abu Dhabi, 2013. (Image: Getty)

It’s Friday and January 2021 is almost over. Woohoo! Between the pandemic and the lockdowns, it’s been a long and hard winter so far.

So, despite all that, we wanted to give you something that might make you smile for a second. At Golf Post, we’re dipping our toes in to the wonderful (and at times, terrifying) world of meme culture.

We’re a little late to the game with this one, but here we go with our favourite European Tour players’ throwbacks. These hilarious pictures are perfect if you need a little cheering up.

Let us know on Twitter @golf_post which one was your favourite!

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Panorama

Tokyo Olympics 2021: (Still) a Good Idea?

The state of the Tokyo Summer Olympics is still uncertain. (Source: Getty)
The state of the Tokyo Summer Olympics is still uncertain. (Source: Getty)

Financial concerns are mounting as the Tokyo Olympic Games -postponed due to the pandemic- is now among the most over budget Olympic Games of all time. But what does this mean for golf?

Yet another consequence of the ongoing pandemic is the ever dwindling prospect of a business-as-usual (whatever that means) Tokyo Summer Olympics. The games were postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic and official sources estimated this has set the country’s Olympic preparations back $7.2B at the time of writing.

One year on: is it really still worth it?

Then prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced in late March 2020, after many countries had entered a full or partial lockdown, that the Games will be postponed until 2021. Since then, the estimated budget has reached an alarmingly unexpected high, with initial estimates of the total cost of the delay ranging from only $2B to $6B.

According to Safebettingsites, the postponement of the games has become a source of tension between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Japanese government, with both sides disagreed on who will foot the bill for the delay.

In recent years, the financial burden of hosting the Summer Olympics has cast an inescapable shadow on the event’s marketability to the countries who compete to host them. On top of this, with the pandemic affecting more people around the world than ever before, many in Japan are starting to ask whether the Tokyo Olympics should take place at all.

Should the games still go ahead in 2021?

If you were to ask someone from Japan, their answer may very well be no.

The pandemic continues to fan the flames of uncertainty in many aspects of our daily lives. In Japan, like in many countries, the daily death toll reached an all time high at the end of December.

With this uncertainty in mind, it may not be surprising that according to Safebetttingsites, a survey of 1000+ Japanese participants, conducted in August, found that 70% of respondents believed that the event should be postponed further, or in some cases (33.7%) outright cancelled.

What does this mean for golf?

2020 would have been only the second chance in recent history to see golf played at the Olympics. The most recent Summer Olympics in Brazil saw 120 players from 41 nations, including Justin Rose (GB) and Henrik Stenson (Sweden), play at the Olympic golf course in Rio de Janeiro. Before 2016, the last Olympic tee-off was in 1904 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Sadly, we missed out on the chance to relive the excitement of the 2016 games in 2020. However, the good news for golf fans is that even in the event of an outright cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics, the pandemic has so far not had such a noticeable impact on much of the global professional calendar for 2021, with the PGA Tour starting again on Friday (08/01).

While the near future of the Olympics doesn’t look good for spectators or organisers, golf fans are lucky enough to still have plenty to look forward to in the upcoming year.

Categories
Panorama

Golf is booming in Great Britain

Many golf rounds were played after the lockdown (Photo: Unsplash)
Many golf rounds were played after the lockdown (Photo: Unsplash)

Sports Marketing Surveys can reveal that Q3 rounds played across Great Britain reached record levels* between July and September 2020.
 
Overall, the average number of rounds played across the country was up 59% compared to 2019. The recent surge means that total rounds for the year to date (up to September) were up 7% against 2019. In the context of the complete closure of golf courses in April, and then of ensuing periods of two ball only play, or increased gaps between tee times, this represents an extraordinary performance for the golf industry.Leading the charge has been the South, where the year to date figure was an astonishing 22% up.

Even in Scotland, where hotels and resorts did not reopen until 15th July, strong inroads are being made into the year to date deficit.
 
The news comes as golf clubs brace themselves for another month of closed doors. There had been hope that golf might be spared to some degree, and that national provisions that allow exercise with one person from another household might mean two ball golf could continue. However, England Golf, who led the arguments to government, announced with “deep regret” on Wednesday 4th November that they had been unable to secure an exemption.
 
Golf courses have reacted stoically, with many pledging to use the four-week closure to work on facilities in preparation for what, if 2020 trends were to be repeated, could be a bookings bonanza in the final weeks of the year.
 
SMS director Richard Payne reflected: “We know this news will be bittersweet for golf courses who have put in so much effort throughout this year to react to the changing coronavirus situation and keep golfers safe. Like many, we had hoped that golf would be able to remain open in any national lockdown. Nevertheless, the record results are a credit to the hard work of course owners, secretaries, professionals, and greenkeeping staff, and should give great heart to clubs as they face the next four weeks. With the delayed Masters driving interest in the sport in November, and consumers more aware than ever of the importance of socialising and exercising outdoors, golf should be well poised – regulations allowing – to rebound in December and end this topsy-turvy year on a high.”  

Text by: Sports Marketing Surveys

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Panorama

Golf and Corona in Europe

We take a look at the current Covid-regulations throughout europe (Image: getty)

A look at the current situation regarding Covid-regulations throughout Europe.

The numbers of Covid infections in Europe have been rising drastically for weeks now, which has led to new rules and guidelines. It is not easy to keep track of in which country golf can still be played. Here is a little overview over the respective regulations that currently apply in several European countries. 

In Germany there are currently contact restrictions which only allow golf flights with an maximum amount of 2 people. However, this means that the golf courses will remain open. Decisions are ultimately taken by the regional authorities, which means that stricter regulations can still come in German states with high infection numbers.

In Spain, there is a nationwide nighttime curfew and almost all of Spain’s regions have imposed regional border closures to prevent long-distance travel. Within Spain, however, it is still permitted to travel. Concerning golf, the central government has empowered the individual regions to take further decisions. So it depends on where exactly you are in Spain and what the local authorities decide.

In England there will be a country-wide lockdown coming into effect on Thursday, the 5th of November, which will last until December the 2nd. The Government has confirmed that golf courses and driving ranges will be among the businesses and venues ordered to close when the country begins a month-long shutdown. Ireland and Wales are in a two-week lockdown since the 23rd of October. Golf is also affected by this, as the courses are currently all closed. In Scotland the golf courses are not affected and golf can still be played.

Despite stricter regulations in some regions of Sweden, golf courses may remain open and golf can be played when keeping distance.

While all indoor activities must be stopped in Austria with the new lockdown in November, the golf courses will remain open. 

In France, the situation has been declared by the French Golf Association, who published a notice giving details of new restrictions. These have a direct impact on the golf sector and will result in a temporary closure of French golf clubs throughout the country from Thursday, the 29 of October to the first of December.

In the Netherlands, golf can still be played in accordance with the distance rules. Under certain conditions even tournaments are allowed

The respective guidelines are constantly changing and are appointed according to the current situation of infections. What is currently valid may already be out of date by tomorrow. If you are unsure whether you can currently play in your region, you should check with your golf club in advance.