In an in-depth investigation, Golf Planète devoted several articles in 2022 to the development of golf in France and the construction of courses. Today, here is a clarification that will interest specialists and amateurs: what is happening in the USA in this regard? This huge country which, in terms of numbers of players and champions, is the world locomotive of golf, is it benefiting from the rebound after Covid generally observed? In terms of practice, it should first be noted that in 2022, demand did not decrease despite the fear of a risk of a decline after a record year in 2021.
Golf attendance only fell by 2%: a very slight decrease linked more to bad weather conditions than to other factors. Demand can therefore be considered strong, which may explain the dynamism of the golf course construction and renovation curve after the health crisis.
Golf courses under construction
Tom Doak, the iconic golf course architect, recently said that over the past year the number of tenders received by his firm has increased dramatically. Admittedly, T. Doak’s professional portfolio is global, but on closer inspection, his resentment describes the current situation well: the National Golf Foundation has just specified that 54 golf courses are under construction in the United States and that 38 are in progress.
planning, figures up 55% compared to the pre-pandemic period. So, what is being built today in the USA? Mainly very targeted facilities such as high-end golf destinations or exclusive private clubs but also innovative short courses aimed at the general public.
We will have occasion to come back to this. The Rules of Golf are a set of standard rules and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and maintained by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St.
Andrews, the governing body for golf worldwide, outside of the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the United States Golf Association. An expert commission made up of members of the R&A and USGA, oversees and refines the rules every four years.
The latest revision has been in force since January 1, 2016. Changes to the rules of golf generally fall into two main categories: those that improve understanding and those that in certain cases reduce penalties to ensure balance.
The rule book, entitled “Rules of Golf”, is published on a regular basis and also includes rules governing amateur status. In Italy it is up to Federgolf to supervise the competitions by enforcing the rules issued by the R & A, checking that these rules are observed by the Clubs, Associations and their members and manages the resulting sporting justice, protecting their interests abroad.
The rules of golf are relatively complicated compared to other sports because they apply outdoors, close to nature and animals. Respect for the rules is a basic element in the game of golf which, almost always based on self-control and the free conscience of the players, often sees distorted results, sometimes consciously, but often unconsciously or lightly, due to non-compliance by many players of the game rules.
In addition to the rules, golf adheres to a code of conduct, known as etiquette, which generally means playing your game with due respect to the golf course and other players. Etiquette is an essential component of this sport.
