Looking for ways to grow golf on LI

As Arnold Palmer approached his ceremonial opening tee shot at the Masters a week ago, he was introduced by Augusta National chairman Billy Payne, who said that because of Palmer, "millions of people took up the game." These days, the issue that golf faces is how to stop millions from quitting.

Palmer and fellow Masters honorary starters Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player all voiced the same concern that is facing golf officials everywhere, including Long Island. The National Golf Foundation's figures that say the golf population has fallen from 30 million to 26.1 million since the mid-2000s. Last year, 157 18-hole courses closed, as opposed to 19 that opened.

"We have a big problem," Nicklaus said during a news conference at Augusta. "Since 2006, we have lost 23 percent of the women and 36 percent of the kids. There has got to be a reason. I think most of it is cost, time -- it's the computer age -- and the difficulty."

Local golf people agree with all of those points, and still they have big hopes. "I think the business of golf and the culture of golf need some change and probably some creativity," said Charlie Robson, executive director of the Metropolitan Professional Golfers Association. "The sport celebrates its history and traditions, so it's a little harder for it to get out of its own way and make changes. Nicklaus speaking out adds some credibility to the fact that change is necessary."

Not that anyone expects to see tumbleweed rolling across every fairway any time soon. A consortium of organizations called We Are Golf asserts that the sport is a $76-billion industry, larger than the motion picture or recording industries. Bloomberg News reported recently that golf's $25 billion consumer market is actually growing for the first time in five years.

Still, there is consensus that it is time for fresh ideas, especially on Long Island, the cradle of American golf. That means occasionally going way out of the box.

John Hines, the head pro at the Baiting Hollow Club, offers an untraditional youth program on Saturday mornings. He brings the group out on the back nine, out of the way of the first members to tee off, and invites them to use the skills from their favorite sports. "They play lacrosse, so I say, 'Bring your lacrosse sticks and see how you can throw a golf ball with it.' Then I give them a golf club, to see which works better," he said. "I don't care if they come out there with a soccer ball. I'll let them try to kick it from 30 yards, then I let them hit a golf ball 30 yards."

He added that he teaches a women's class on the course, not on the driving range, so they can feel comfortable with the environment. They start with 50-yard shots and work from there. The class started with four students and last year grew to 24.

"I tell everyone to look at the surroundings: 'You're in a park. Enjoy the beauty of the golf course,' " he said.

Nicklaus said golf should be played in actual, ordinary parks. "Just cut some grass, put a flag in and go play," he said. "I mean, that's how they started the game. Just get people involved, the people in the game."