Unfortunately golf is practically considered to be a retirement sport. No one wants to be trapped within their age and as we grow older we tend to want to associate with things that remind us of the possibilities of youth. Golf will need to work hard to overcome the stereotypes that have been imposed on it so that it can garner a fan base which is as wide as possible.
Golf and elitism
The first great problem that has been discussed extensively by various commentators is the lingering perception that golf is a sport that encourages elitism. The golf watchers simply have to look at the golf stars and their backgrounds or current wealth levels to come to this conclusion. In certain measures, the degree of elitism has been slightly exaggerated to suit political objectives. However there are issues to be addressed in terms of opening up access to people from poorer backgrounds. This image problem is not about surface issues but also the practical aspects that go into fashioning a successful golf career. When parents look at the costs involved and the sacrifices that they are required to make, they come to the logical conclusion that golf is closed to them forever. Golf associations can deal with this problem by putting out the truth. Amongst the various points that will be made against golf, there will be plenty of half truths and outright lies. Nothing good can really be achieved until the accurate picture is disseminated to the general public.
Golf and minorities
The second issue is the role of minorities in the high profile events that constitute the core of the golf season. These minorities are usually related to gender. Some great work has been done to bring women into the fold and their current tournaments are quite lucrative in their own right. However we might feel that golf is not shouting loud enough about these achievements. Moreover there are still certain issues that need to be resolved such as the absence of joint tournaments with men on the main circuit. This would increase the profile of women and ensure that they are no longer a minority in golf. As for the ethnic minorities, apart from the glaring example of Tiger Woods nothing else seems to be happening. Even more distressing are the stories of outright racist abuse form within the ranks of the country club glitterati. This is simply unacceptable but the options available to the golfing authorities are likewise limited in as far as a country club can very much do as it pleases short of seriously breaking the law.
