re: Dick's Sporting Goods Fires 500+ Golf Pros

My dad and his friends were golfers who golfed at least once a week in a league during the season and would often golf on weekends and go on golf outings in SC during the winter.

I came from a very middle-class background and I knew people who worked in factories who didn't go to college but had good jobs who played golf in leagues on weeknights at public courses. Golf was the summer sport for many and bowling was the winter sport for a lot of middle-class and working-class folks at public courses.

I think the problem with golf is that the equipment gets better but it gets more expensive. Most leagues at public courses charge very reasonable prices but the number of league golfers and recreational golfers from modest means are dwindling. Golf courses are closing and many city and county owned golf courses are closing and being sold.

Sure golf will survive as a sport of the upper-class and the demographics means it will always be on television but the early 2000s boom period is over. Don't forget that Tiger Woods got his start on public courses.