Lee Westwood - Golf Is Too Hard
The former World Number One was chatting to BBC Radio 5 Live about the struggles that our game faces...
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The Englishman was chatting to BBC Radio 5 Live about the struggles that our game faces...
Lee Westwood - Golf Is Too Hard
Golf, like most industries, faces struggles in the modern day with competition from others sports and all sorts of various different hobbies and pastimes.
Aside from outside of golf, there are plenty of different struggles that golf faces from within, with the cost to play, the time it takes and the difficulty of the game just a few.
Former World Number one Lee Westwood was speaking on Radio 5 Live about the struggles golf faces and said that the difficulty of the game is one of the main barriers.
The 24-time European Tour winner suggested that holes could be made bigger and rough could be cut down to help new players enjoy golf more.
"I think there's a few different problems," Westwood told the station.
Related: Westwood - I want to be 2022 Ryder Cup captain
"I think golf takes too long, the speed of play when people watch the professionals play is very slow and I don't think that helps the perception of golf.
"I think it's very expensive still to play golf, more could be done to make it a bit cheaper to play.
"I think more girls and women could be encouraged to play, I don't think they're encouraged as much as they could be.
"They're trying to deal with these but it has been a problem that has been around a while and it's gonna be difficult to change peoples' perceptions of the game.
"One of the main things with golf is it's too hard.
"We should be trying to make it easier, I think different formats where maybe where the hole's bigger, not as much rough on golf courses so people are not out there losing golf balls and looking for their golf balls all the time.
"I think that's part of the problem, that it is a hard game to play."
What do you think the biggest obstacles are that golf faces? And do you agree with Westwood that the game is too difficult?
Let us know your thoughts on our social media channels
Listen to Westwood's comments to BBC Radio 5 Live here (opens in new tab).
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Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news, features, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Elliott has interviewed some huge names in the golf world including Sergio Garcia, Thomas Bjorn, Bernd Wiesberger and Scotty Cameron as well as a number of professionals on the DP World and PGA Tours. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as four Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats anywhere between 2-6. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max
Irons: Mizuno MP5 4-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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