HowDidiDo survey: golf neglected by national press

A recent survey by HowDidiDo, Europe's largest golfing community, has revealed the majority of club golfer participants feel golf doesn't receive the coverage it deserves from the national press

Ryder Cup 2012

The majority of British club golfers believe their sport isn't sufficiently represented in the national press, according to a recent survey by HowDidiDo, Europe's largest golfing community.

An overwhelming 98% of respondents fell golf isn't seen as a priority by the national sports press, while 97% believe football dominates the thoughts of those of national sports desks.

in addition, only 16% feel that golf coverage is 'good or better' when it is covered by national newspapers. More than half believe golf reporting is 'below average or worse.'

The Telegraph and Mail, though, are regarded as giving the best coverage, notching 30 and 20% respectively.

The tabloid press faired particularly badly, with the Daily and Sunday Express, Daily and Sunday Mirror and the Daily Star receiving a lowly 11% of the vote between them.

In total, 2,260 people responded to the three questions posed.

"We were not surprised to learn that most club golfers believe that football is the be all and end all for the national media," said Barry Dyett, HowDidiDo's Managing Director.

"It's probably more of a surprise to see just which papers our members - all paid-up club golfers remember - believe give the sport best coverage when it does feature.

"Does this suggest tabloid editors believe their readership does not play or has no interest golf? You'd have to ask them, but, if so, it's a pretty anachronistic view."

HowDidiDo is Europe's largest golfing community, holding in excess of 21 million rounds and the handicaps, results and scores of more than 1,300,000 UK golf club members.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x