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
When will you allow yourself to be part of a (general) crowd of people?
4%Now
33.2%Once gov’t relaxes social dist. rules
36.4%Sometime after rules are relaxed
26.3%Only after pandemic is over
Do you care about the golf industry?
87.5%YES
11.7%Yes, but not during C-19
0.7%NO
The following survey took place from April 9-17 (a time frame in which MI courses were ordered closed, well, sort of) when Michigan was in the early stages of Michigan Governor Whitmer’s second and more aggressive stay at home executive order. The focus of the questions was about playing in Tournaments and Charity Outings:
Do you belong to a private, member-only club?
23.5%YES
76.1%NO
How many Outings (not tournaments) did you play in last year?
8.6%One
29.2%Two-to-three
15.5%Four-to-five
38%More than five
(Editor’s note to our Governor: continued proof that golfers are some of the most charitable and caring people around.)
Will you play in an Outing or a Tournament this year?
29%Only an Outing
54.5%Both
4.1%Only a Tournament
10.3%Neither
Has COVID-19 changed your mind about Outings?
12.4%Will not play Outing due to C-19
7.5%Will not play Outing for other reasons
78%Will play in an Outing this year
Shotgun events could make social distancing more difficult. How will this affect you?
70%I’m perfectly fine with a shotgun event
16.7%I will be less likely to play in a shotgun
12.1%I will not play a shotgun event
How long will the pandemic impact your decisions to play or not play in Tournaments and Outings?
25.2%One-to-three months
25.1%Won’t affect at all
28%Three months to a year
9%One-to-two years
Have you or a member of your immediate family tested positive for COVID-19?
96.7%NO
3.3%Me and/or a family member
When will you allow yourself to share a golf cart with someone you do NOT know?
7.4%Now
23.5%This Summer
21.7%This Fall
34%Next year
8.6%After next year
Share a cart with someone you DO know?
30.5%Now
35%This Summer
17.1%This Fall
12.2%Next year
2.9%After next year
MGJ
