Golf in the US of A
In this month’s series of adventures, we had the opportunity to explore some golf in the United States. Two weeks is certainly never enough to fully indulge in any location, especially when one of them is New York City, however, it is certainly enough time to gain a better grasp on golf in America.
The trip was a blended one, with an equal amount of time spent between leisure and work, which is always heavily encouraged from the perspective of work-life balance. The focus of the work is to attain a better understanding of how Australian golf businesses can operate in the States. The focus of the leisure is to explore the magical concrete jungle and more deeply explore American cuisine.
As a quick aside, the start of the trip highlighted the importance of remaining calm whilst travelling, flights were delayed, baggage was lost, and the rental car fleet was improperly managed. However, stress does not help these situations, as long as you have your wallet, passport and ideally a phone, all problems can be solved. Calmness, a kind tone, and nice words do tend to go a long way in these situations.
Back to the trip, however, a number of meetings with a variety of private members, public access, and resort golf courses across the Northeast states did elucidate a number of variances between golf back home and golf in America. They do country clubs very well, but very private, there is a lot more beer and music on the golf course and sometimes a large number of staff can add to the bustling environment.
Whilst travelling from Philadelphia up through New Jersey and eventually through to New York it does become evident how the courses can differ from back home. Golf courses here are often sprawling across rolling hills, winding through forests and wetlands, showcasing the expansive and diverse land the architect can work with. It is generally known that the country's vastness allows for a greater variety of course designs, however, I think this stems from a cultural difference. They simply appear to be more willing to drive out of the city to access the idealistic land for golf.
These conditions allow for clubs to have swimming pools, tennis courts, horse riding academies, and more within the grounds of the golf club. These clubs, bringing together people from many walks of life, with a variety of interests certainly do encourage a vibrant community that can sometimes be missed back home.
Stepping away from the golf for a moment, we took some time to explore the ever-enchanting New York City. From nights at the Broadway, afternoons in central park, and mornings trying to find a half-decent coffee in Soho, time certainly flies by in the concrete jungle. I’m not sure what it is, but every time I find myself in this wonderful city it does seem to bring me joy and inspiration in a way that no other city does. Certainly a worthwhile visit on any golf trip to the North East of America.
Back on course, we are experiencing a different vibrant community, with a festival of different music being showcased by the various groups playing on any given day. This is certainly not something that is unique to golf in Boston, but with the summer weather really warming up it is great to see the popularity of golf hasn’t diminished since the Covid boom. Whether this social aspect is lost in the Australian golf market or interrupts the serenity is for others to debate, however, it was certainly a new experience being heckled on the first tee as I approached my ball.
Golf in Australia certainly has more similarities than differences, people are lovely everywhere you go, can appreciate the relaxation on the 19th hole, and show a deep love for our global game. However, if you are an avid golf lover, like me, tying in some golf the next time you travel will be most worthwhile.
++++++++++++++++++++
Guest Writer: Callum Bakken
We love to hear from you, so if there’s something you’d like to see more of in AWGN’s Inside News, or you have an idea or tip to share, email us at jessica@auswomensgolf.com.au
And if you know someone who would be interested in receiving a copy of Inside News, share it with them.