Derek Smith on Utilizing Data to Revolutionize the Golf Industry

But the numbers tell a story.

And I just wonder what story the numbers tell about 12-hole golf.

Because to me, I've always thought nine holes is not enough.

That's for wimps.

That's just my feelings.

I think I may be on to something, but you have more that we can mine from.

What is it? What do we know about 12-hole golf?

Well, what we know about 12 hole golf is that there were hardly any 12 hole courses built over the past hundred years.

Right.

So I've got some stats on that.

But, you know, since what we do is we monitor courses at every golf facility in America.

And then we also track upcoming projects.

Right.

So we know how many 12 hole courses are in development.

And what I can tell you is there are more 12 hole courses developed.

going to be built in the 2020s than the previous three decades combined.

And the question is, why is that? We can get into that, but I think it's clear that the younger generation, their attention spans may be a little shorter.

Golf has certainly kind of become more of a fun party type social event than maybe an old man's game, which historically has been you know, compared to.

And, and so there's, I think business opportunities and entrepreneurs trying to capitalize on where the market's going and the opportunity to, to make golf more fun and bring in new types of golfers.

Yeah, I think one story that I hear a lot when I caddy for people, I usually ask my players, what's your golf history? How much golf are you playing? And a common answer I hear a lot is like, well, I used to play a lot of golf and then I had kids.

And I get it.

There are family demands and everything.

So is that kind of what you're seeing with new parents, fathers in particular? But it's not just men.

Women are playing too.

Yeah, I mean, I can't tell you how many new golfers I golf with and they are disinterested by like the 14th hole.