Cycling really the new golf? (yes I know...)

[blondeonabike]

I chatted to a buddy of mine recently (one of the top trail builders in the country) who is currently changing a golf estate into a MTB estate somewhere in the Cape. I know I should remember the name as it was quite a popular golfing spot.

 

It seems as though courses are just too expensive to maintain, take up too much space and use too much water.

They should leave a few bunkers when they convert though.  Handy for a skills clinic to teach people how to ride in sand. 

Let the courses go to meadow and mow a trail.  Stunning! (Bulk meadow flower seed is also available)

[RocknRolla]

A golf course is a mtb track waiting to happen...

[Hairy]

I chatted to a buddy of mine recently (one of the top trail builders in the country) who is currently changing a golf estate into a MTB estate somewhere in the Cape. I know I should remember the name as it was quite a popular golfing spot.

 

It seems as though courses are just too expensive to maintain, take up too much space and use too much water.

Would love more info on this please......even if it just a pm

[arendoog]

I played 18 holes yesterday and carried my bag .The previous day a did a MTB 70km race .I was more tired after 4 h of golf than 3h30 on the mtb  .If you play golf and carry your bag like you should be doing it is a lot of endurance training  

[Lurch the stalker]

I played 18 holes yesterday and carried my bag .The previous day a did a MTB 70km race .I was more tired after 4 h of golf than 3h30 on the mtb  .If you play golf and carry your bag like you should be doing it is a lot of endurance training

 

Is it more tiring because of the shame you have to carry around for playing golf..? har har just kidding

['Dale]

I chatted to a buddy of mine recently (one of the top trail builders in the country) who is currently changing a golf estate into a MTB estate somewhere in the Cape. I know I should remember the name as it was quite a popular golfing spot.

It seems as though courses are just too expensive to maintain, take up too much space and use too much water.

'Nuff said hey

[RockCoach]

Would love more info on this please......even if it just a pm

I wish I had more to tell you. But that's all I know unfortunately.

[canadonis]

I played 18 holes yesterday and carried my bag .The previous day a did a MTB 70km race .I was more tired after 4 h of golf than 3h30 on the mtb  .If you play golf and carry your bag like you should be doing it is a lot of endurance training

 

It could also mean that you a better cyclist than golfer.

 

I played golf off a single figure handicap and belonged to rondebosch for many years and always carried my bag, the intensity of workout climbing to tokai mast can never be compared to a round of golf even if I carry my bag and inhalf the time required for the cycle.

 

I think I will definitely pick up the clubs again in about 15 years time when I'm closer to 50 or 60. For now the exhilaration and intense workout ( increased heart rate) Within the time I receive from cycling, golf will never Offer me.

[Frosty]

Yes I know this topic has been covered ad nauseum and cycling has been the "new" golf for ages...

 

but

 

I thought this article was interesting

 

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/golf/30422698

 

Seems in Britain the sport of golf is actually declining with cycling gaining a lot of participants & golf is trying to re-invent itself to stay relevant. Would be interesting to know how the stats look in RSA?

This morning on Tony Blewitt's show (MixFM), he chatted to Jason (from Golfer's World), and a number of 245,000 (registered golfers in RSA) was mentioned - that was the 2007 figure - while it has dropped to 174,000 (registered golfers) in 2014.

 

We know (or have been told) that cycling is the new golf, but according to CyclingSA, there are only 25,000 registered members in 2014. This number would seem to have stagnated, as the 947/Argus has hovered around the 25000/35000 mark for a number of years. Take that the bulk of the Argus entries are WC residents (not 100% sure of the amount), and that the bulk of the 947 entries are GP residents - the overall number of participants is (perhaps) closer to 50,000 participants in both events.

 

There may be a lot more people "riding" bicycles (including the Marko specials), but definitely NOT the 69,000 that have given up playing golf - as a registered member.

 

Yes, from a business sense, cycling may be the place to talk business and it probably is growing while golf is on the decline (based on the numbers given this morning), but imagine if we had 175,000 cyclists on the roads/trails... a lot more grumpy motorists!

[GoLefty!!]

I chatted to a buddy of mine recently (one of the top trail builders in the country) who is currently changing a golf estate into a MTB estate somewhere in the Cape. I know I should remember the name as it was quite a popular golfing spot.

 

It seems as though courses are just too expensive to maintain, take up too much space and use too much water.

 

 

The challenge golf courses are facing is that it is prime real estate being used by very few people. Land in Cape Town is in short supply and theres just too many golf course too close together. One of the courses needed a bail out of R40Million to keep it going recently.

If the course is on municipal land then its curtains...

[Guest On Track]

i agree, way more ppl cycling these days and guys and to it with their wives, so enjoyable sport for both to do together...builds the relationship, thumbs up

[SAGecko]

.builds the relationship, thumbs up

 

Until you start kicking your husband's a*se on the uphills 

[Spinnekop]

And now it is reversing back.....

Golf becoming the new cycling....

 

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/golf-surpasses-cycling-and-athletics-for-drug-findings-1.2301094#.Vbkb-EXgPhU.twitter

[Skubarra]

 

We know (or have been told) that cycling is the new golf, but according to CyclingSA, there are only 25,000 registered members in 2014. This number would seem to have stagnated, as the 947/Argus has hovered around the 25000/35000 mark for a number of years. Take that the bulk of the Argus entries are WC residents (not 100% sure of the amount), and that the bulk of the 947 entries are GP residents - the overall number of participants is (perhaps) closer to 50,000 participants in both events.

 

 

Just on that, the organisers cap the number of entrants at R30K so I don't think you can go on that number

 

When I did my first Argus in 2012 I entered 2 months after the entries opened, for the 2015 version you had to enter on the day entries opened (and manage crashed entry sites) otherwise you have to hope for thehub classifieds! 

[Pure Savage]

I think golf just has better admin to get the numbers recorded. Ctct has 45000 odd people wanting to enter each year. You have ask those mtb stage races selling out in minutes. DC selling out in minutes. If CSA was not seen as a joke and a waste of time by so many cyclists you would get a better idea of how many cyclists are in SA. I doubt all the people stopping golf are just sitting at home playing angry birds.