Michigan Golf Journal May 2020

Michigan Golf Journal The Future of Golf Stu Healey has worked in the golf industry for over 40 years – yet recently said he has “witnessed several peaks and valleys, however COVID-19 is beyond anything any of us has ever seen.” Like many of his counterparts in golf, he didn’t want to speculate how and to what degree the virus would change golfers and their playing habits – he wanted to know . So, he surveyed the tens of thousands of Handicomp users. Handicomp is a 52-year-old Michigan based software company started by his father that develops web and mobile applications with an emphasis on golf activities such as league management, tournament management and golf handicapping. “What pleasantly surprised me is the degree to which golfers trust each other and also, they understand the defeat of COVID-19 is a long game,” said Healy, the president of Handicomp. “I hope state governors appreciate both golfers’ character and wisdom.    “Also, responses suggest for the most part golf will remain golf, but most else at the course will be different and that’s where the industry may have to adapt the most; at least until after the long game, which may mean 2022.” The following results come from Handicomp’s survey taken between April 1-10 (the majority of days when golf was open in MI), in which nearly 8,000 golfers gave feedback. In this section and the section following, virtually all respondents were golfers, and more than 85% were men: If rules of social distancing are followed by golfers and course owners, should golf be open for play even if other states are not? 78% YES 11.4% NO 10.2% Whatever my government decides When will you play your next round of golf? 68.6% As soon as I can 14% Once gov’t relaxes rules on distancing 9.6% Sometime after rules are relaxed 6.4% Only after the pandemic is over Do you believe the benefits of golfing outweigh the risk associated with spreading C-19, providing that the rules of social distancing are followed by all? 45.8% YES 19.6% Nearly equal benefits and risk 27% NO 7% Don’t know Golfer Survey on COVID-19 Reveals Little Fear