Baller_ Wish Posted June 16, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted June 16, 2019 So to obviously get some legs back under another declining sport, USGA is promoting "Play9". They are promoting how it takes less time, is more fun and family and work friendly and that you can still post scores with the USGA. We keep adding rules, regs, additional elements where no score can be posted unless it's rapped up in all kinds of elements that make some skiers walk away and puts up barriers for new blood. The USGA recognizes the need for change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller JeffSurdej Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 @Wish same exact thoughts crossed my mind when I saw that commercial. So smart. I also attended a great grassroots event this weekend at liquid edge in IL. Watched many first time competition skiers and it got me thinking about how we need to evolve much more to adapt to a society today that is busier in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 Golf, a good walk ruined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Ilivetoski Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 Water skiing should take notes from golf. Both sports have similar barriers to entry- both take a chunk of your day to do, both are expensive, and they have similar target markets. Golf is huge where water skiing is not, & competitive golf will never disappear the way it seems tournament water skiing is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MillerTime38 Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 Another thing golf promotes is playing from the tee box that fits your skill. Hmmmm sounds kinda like zero based scoring.......how did that go over in our sport? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted June 17, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted June 17, 2019 @MillerTime38, I think ZBS went over fairly well - except for when people wanted to ski faster than their divisional max speed. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller blagrata Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 @oldjeep I agree... golf is a good walk ruined... by a cart. The suggestion of playing nine is a great one.... especially if people would start walking. That's not exactly good for the course.... they would prefer you take a golf cart and an expensive 6 pack of beer. If people would start to see it as 2 hours of exercise where you don't think you're exercising it would help. 9 holes is about 7-9k steps (more if you suck)... and a few miles. It is unfortunate to see golf declining. Courses are closing all over the place. It will be a long time until it gets to the access problem that skiing has... but fewer choices are never good. Golf unfortunately is relatively difficult... much like skiing.... people in general don't seem to like difficult anymore. There are a few courses around me that have started to promote golf as more of a family sport.... which is fantastic. The courses have promotions that kids can play for free with a paying adult. Putting a golf club in their hand is way better than an xbox controller. I have found if I say that I'm taking my 9 year old to play with me that I get zero resistance from the spouse (who plays too). Much like slalom skiing... golf also suffers from a lack of female involvement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller disland Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 I dont count success yet. Play 9 only works if they charge you for 9. Most courses dont give you much of a break on fee's for 9 holes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller blagrata Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 @disland That is true. It is pretty expensive to play nine in most cases... especially with a riding cart. Walking helps and going at off times. My wife and I go walk nine on Sunday afternoon a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller RAWSki Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 Fortunately golf has the money to promote things like play-nine a few years back it was "play it forward" trying to convince people the could play the front tees without shame. We have some courses near us that are offering Foot Golf it's a fun option and might get younger soccer kids and families interested in playing golf as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jetsetr Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 I’m sorry but skiing is WAAAAAY more expensive than golf. I have a membership at a nice course for $200 per YEAR...unlimited golf during the week. Best part is when I implode I can walk off the course after 4 holes and not be pissed about dropping a Benjamin to play.... A new ski boat is 100K+, a decent ski 1K, wetsuits, gloves, tow lines, handles....even my old Brendella costs more than most memberships in this are. If you need a membership @ Bushwood Im sure that’s a bit pricy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted June 17, 2019 Author Baller_ Share Posted June 17, 2019 @jetster. True but not the point. Point being USGA is actually recognizing and doing something about its decline in membership. Somthing out of the box. Something grass roots (pun intended) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Ilivetoski Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 @Jetsetr what part of the country do you live in? Even in Kentucky a decent country club will run you at least $3,000-$4,000 a year plus initiation & quarterly minimums... And we have courses with $60k initiation & $3k a month after that... I have as much if not more in clubs than I do my syndicate pro. You sound like you have a course that offers a great deal, but most courses don’t offer any kinds of memberships for $200 a year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted June 17, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted June 17, 2019 @Ilivetoski, there is a 27 hole course near me with a $1200 membership. It’s $900 if you are over 55 or under 25. Golf anytime, no other fees. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller A_B Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 and I don't need a $110K golf cart to walk 9-holes!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BlueSki Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 I don’t golf, but I have noticed a number of golf courses seem to waste a lake as a water hazard when a ski lake would be a much better use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller lazzn Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 For what it's worth the sky is the limit for the cost of both sports. I know people who spend over 10 grand per year on golf (and its associated expenses) and people who spend an insignificant amount. Likewise I know people who always have new ski boats and people who are happy to rip behind their fishing boats. At the end of the day it comes down to what you want out of the sport. Having some recreational fun in either sport is very different from trying to put together a successful competition career and that is always going to be the case. While money is an issue, the bigger issue is just getting exposure. Collegiate skiing is great for this. I've watched a lot of people (myself included) go from recreational to having the 3 event bug in a big way. From what I've heard the grassroots events are also great at this. But it requires sponsors and people that want to put in the time and money to do them. I am certain there are plenty of people out there who would grow into big participants in the competition side of the sport, but haven't been exposed to it in a way that would draw them in. If you can figure out how to advertise/sell the tournament lifestyle to a lot of people, some of them just might buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jcamp Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 So @Wish, start putting on some tournaments that are "fun". Nothing is stopping you. The rules allow for all kinds of formats, many of which can be put on with a minimal number of officials and any boat that has been previously approved by the AWSA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted June 17, 2019 Author Baller_ Share Posted June 17, 2019 @jcamp, my 97 SN was approved at one point. So I'm good to put on a tournament?? Hmmmmm. Will scores count? ;) Note USGA is allowing scores for 9 holes to count in some manner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller gjohnson Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 And that's the problem with tournament skiing. It's all about setting a score that counts. If you can't ski close to your max, what's the point of skiing in a tournament? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jetsetr Posted June 17, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 17, 2019 @Live2ski I live in SE Wisconsin... As stated in my post if you “need” to be a member at Bushwood it’s going to cost you to be seen. If you want to be a member @ Sutton Bay it’s 100 large per year... @lazzn sums it up very well.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Mateo_Vargas Posted June 18, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 18, 2019 Play 5 will get more Rico's into golf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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