As he enters the home part of his mission at the R&A, Martin Slumbers issues what appears to be a wake-up call to local authorities responsible for public golf courses around the world, and especially in Europe. Because the number of these courses, which are decisive in the access to golf for the greatest number of people, is decreasing.
” Work with us » is the message of essence Martin Slumbersthe boss of R&A who will leave the hand in November, to address the authorities that manage public golf courses around the world.
This message follows a question she was asked before the start of The Women’s Open. Several journalists asked him to respond to the likely loss of public courses in Dundee, Scotland’s fourth largest city.
Golf has enjoyed eight years of extraordinary growth
Concerns about the degradation of public lands go beyond Britain for Martin Slumbers. We also know that the event affected France.
” This worries me a lot,” recognized the employer of Royal and Ancient.
” We are fully aware of the importance of the existence of these courses for the development of golf, they are the bottom of the pyramid. Golf has enjoyed eight years of extraordinary growth. If you are focused on the R&A scope (Editor’s note: primarily in Europe), 62.3 million people now consume golf. The numbers have increased significantly after COVID. That’s why we need more facilities. »
” I think it is important for us to show the municipal councils who are under incredible stress and pressure that it is important to keep these golf courses operating and that they add value to society.“, continued Martin Slumbers.
The lack of general public sports equipment in France
In France, as we know, there is no shortage of courses (more than 700). As explained by the architect on our site Alain Prat in 2022, they are divided into 4 categories:
the most important “commercial” golf courses financed (land and construction) mainly by public project owners and managed by private operators (pension funds, developers, etc.), public golf courses unlike the previous ones managed by communities, the private golf courses and to a lesser extent, real estate golf courses.
Public golf courses are those that have probably contributed the most to the popular democratization of golf. However, according to Alain Prat, “The lack of real public facilities (such as other facilities such as football fields, swimming pools, etc.), means that France remains behind in its development if we compare, for example, to Germany 600,000 players and 750 golf courses.
The concern raised by Martin Slumbers therefore mainly in France.