The Practical Need for Diversity: Three Ways for Golf Courses to Encourage More of It
Diversity arises naturally within ecosystems to maintain balance and harmony; it’s time for golf and human civilization as a whole to follow.
Diversity is closely linked with the ability to adapt to a changing environment. Biodiversity is a predictor of the stability, health, productivity, and resilience in an ecosystem, while diversity of opinion may even be key to sustaining the health of organizations on a plethora of scales.
Adaptive variation within and among species is an archetype of health in nature - a very old, stable, and true pattern of evolution. Among many examples, the health of a human being can be surveyed by the variety of microorganisms available among his or her gut flora, and in direct parallel, the health of land (soil fertility, productivity, etc.) can be assessed by the diversity of microorganisms in soil.
In contrast, we have the modern golf course. Biologically, it is a monoculture of grass, and socially, it essentially remains a monoculture of wealthy white men.
Species tend to thrive in environments where other symbiotic relationships can support their development, which is why a golf course requires significant chemical inputs and “-cides” to promote the appearance of healthy, unperturbed grass. Natural grasslands rely on other flora, fauna, and microbial life (in mutually interdependent relationships) to provide one another the nutrients and environmental conditions needed to grow. The typical golf course is addicted to external inputs and unable to support itself as a self-sustaining, healthy system. Of course, golf will always need mowers and greenskeeping crews (even if aided by grazing sheep), but through a natural and minimalist approach to design, golf can actually encourage biodiversity, enhancing the golfer’s experience while reducing operating costs.
Diversity allows for resilience and adaptation to environmental change. The changes that will force golf to adapt not only include rising temperatures and sea level along with increasing severity of flood/drought. More immediately and practically, external forces of adaptation include demographic changes. The Millennial population overtook Baby Boomers as the largest generation in the US as of early 2020, while the US population expects to become minority white within a couple of decades.
From where will golf attract its customers of tomorrow, and how will it attract them?
In its essence, the game of golf is no stranger to the advantages of diversity, even despite its lopsided demographics. The skilled golfer needs versatility (a range of skills) in order to traverse the challenges of an 18-hole round, because golf as a game essentially requires its participant to adapt -- to a variety of angles, lies, weather, moods, thoughts, playing partners, and courses. No two golf courses are precisely alike (nor two golf shots), and central to the golfer’s journey is the privilege of playing as many unique courses as possible.
Diversity of opinion, background, and culture are at the heart of what allows free societies to survive and flourish. The United States is ultimately a melting pot of racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds spread across a plurality of states. In summary, subcomponents of a natural ecosystem rely upon one another for the functioning of the whole. Diverse ecosystems tend to be more stable and productive than monocultures.
How might golf learn from nature, or look to feed healthy diversity into its “soil” of participation and engagement? Perhaps as a start, golf’s demographics could adapt to mimic the diversity of nature, wherein various parts of an ecosystem work in harmony to support one another. Natural systems benefit little from exclusivity. Nor does golf.
Conversely, diversity and inclusion are even what drive evolution, innovation, and the propagation of life. Here are three possible ways for golf courses to encourage greater diversity:
More people are being introduced to golf thanks to the rise of off-course golf venues like Topgolf.
Learn from the competition
Golf has more competition for time and attention than ever. That competition has subsided during the course of a global pandemic in which safe recreational options became scarce, partially allowing for a “boom” in golf participation. When the world returns to normal, expect off-course/alternate formats to continue surpassing their on-course counterpart in participation. What can golf courses learn from Topgolf and Drive Shack? If you reduce barriers to entry (i.e., cost, time, and archaic dress codes) and replace intimidation with fun, you tend to see a younger and more diverse demographic. Broadening the limit of what constitutes a “competitor” to golf, keep in mind that the world’s largest sport (soccer/football) is also probably the most diverse in terms of viewership and participation.
Hire the diversity you want to attract
How might you feel at a golf course as a female person of color if all staff are white males? Comfortable? Eager to play a round of golf? Or perhaps alienated, judged, and intimidated -- particularly if you’ve never picked up a golf club before. By hiring more minorities and women into positions of power, influence, and visibility, golf can expect to attract a broader clientele. Most golfers are introduced to the game through a relative or close friend. By facilitating role models for novice golfers from a variety of backgrounds, golf can begin to create an environment that reflects the existing (and growing) diversity of the public population.
Design (or renovate) facilities to serve multiple purposes
Golf courses can look to replace barriers to entry with “gateways” to entry. The greatest opportunity exists in the design phase, but with a median size of 150 acres, almost any golf course can find some alternative and productive use of its land in addition to golf. A classic example includes the Himalayas putting green at St. Andrews. For three pounds, anyone can play 18 holes of putting on St. Andrews greens while having a clear view of the 1st and 18th holes of the Old Course. With less skill, money, and time required for entry, this alternative land use can help attract a broader clientele while also serving existing clientele. I can’t say that playing the Himalayas helped me putt better on the gigantic greens of the Old Course, but I did witness a broader demographic of participants.
