VOA慢速英语--高尔夫如何吸引更多的人？

How Can Golf Appeal to More People? 高尔夫如何吸引更多的人？

Golf is big business in America, with a total economy estimated¹ at nearly 70 billion dollars.

The U.S. is also the world’s biggest market for golf equipment, according to a report from Golf Datatech. The other top countries are Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom, Canada and China.

But the industry is working on ways to make golf more appealing, especially to young Americans.

The CEO of the U.S.-based World Golf Foundation², Steve Mona, told VOA he believes the current state of golf is healthy and stable. His group says about 20 million Americans regularly play the game.

But Mona also sees the need for change, to get more people to discover and play golf. He said the industry has focused on ways to make the game faster, more playable and fun.?

Modern Changes on the Course

Some golf courses have expanded fairways so golfers have less chance of losing balls in water or trees. Others move up the starting point for young or new players, so they are closer to the hole.

Some new courses also have fewer obstacles³ than in the past, such as water ponds or sand traps. And the area near the hole is sometimes designed flatter⁴, to keep the ball from rolling too much.

These changes could also attract adult golfers who want to play a faster, less difficult game. But with young people, Mona said it is important to get them interested at an early age.

One program to do this is the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, for girls and boys ages 7-15.

The name of the competition refers to golf’s three main skills. Driving is when a golfer hits the ball far at the start of the game. A chip is a much shorter shot, usually taken close to the hole. Putting refers to hitting the ball softly⁵ in the area near the hole, called the green.

Junior Golf Champions

Girls and boys from all 50 U.S. states compete in the championship. Organizers say the program has been one of the best ways to bring young people to golf.

But Mona said it is not enough just to get people interested. “The challenge for us in the golf industry is we have to convert⁶ interest into trial,” he said. “And then convert trial into actual participation⁷ in the game.”

Sam Schmitz is studying professional golf management at Eastern Kentucky University. He also believes speeding up the game will get more people to try golf.

“For the younger generation, the biggest complaint about golf is how long it takes,” he said. A full game can last four hours.

Old Traditions Changing?

Golf is a very traditional game and has not changed much over the years. But Schmitz said many young people may become golfers for life if they see how fun and challenging it is.

His favorite parts of golf are being with others and enjoying the nature and beauty of different courses.

“It’s something different every time,” he said. “You have that one course you play a lot, but you can always go somewhere else and find a new challenge and new people.”

When it comes to course design, Schmitz said there are no big changes happening across the industry. But one design trend is to combine golf courses with other business and housing⁸ developments.

Mona sees this trend getting bigger as golf expands into new areas. He also said some old courses are also being repurposed for commercial use or as part of large economic projects.

Golf Course to Green Space

One way to convert old courses in the United States is to turn them into parks or recreation areas for the whole community to enjoy.

One of these projects is in Grafton, Ohio, where the former Royal Oaks⁹ Golf Club was turned into a nature area.

About 39 hectares of the old golf course were converted¹⁰ into walking trails, hiking areas and fish ponds. The area will also protect the habitat of certain plants and animals threatened in Ohio.

1 estimated   

adj．根据估计的

参考例句：

• She estimated the breadth of the lake to be 500 metres. 她估计湖面大约有500米宽。
• The man estimated for the repair of the car. 那人估算了修理汽车的费用。

2 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

3 obstacles   

n. 干扰；障碍

参考例句：

• I think most of these obstacles can be surmounted. 我认为这些障碍大多数都是可以克服的。
• There's no formidable obstacles in the world. 世上没有无法逾越的障碍。

4 flatter   

v.向...谄媚，奉承，使高兴，使感到荣幸

参考例句：

• We flatter ourselves that we provide the best service in town.我们相信我们提供的服务在本市最好。
• It turns my stomach to hear him flatter.听到他拍马屁，我实在感到讨厌。

5 softly   

adv.柔和地，静静地，温柔地

参考例句：

• He speaks too softly for her to hear.他讲话声音太轻，她听不见。
• She breathed her advice softly.她低声劝告。

6 convert   

v.（在形式、状态、用途等方面）（使）改变

参考例句：

• I must convert sorrow into strength.我要化悲痛为力量。
• At what rate does the dollar convert into pounds?美元以什么汇率兑换成英镑？

7 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

8 housing   

n.房屋，住宅；住房建筑；外壳，外罩

参考例句：

• Do you think our housing sales will turn around during this year?你认为今年我们的住宅销路会好转吗？
• The housing sales have been turning down since the summer.入夏以来，房屋的销售量日趋减少。

9 oaks   

n.栎树( oak的名词复数 )；橡树；栎木；橡木

参考例句：

• Oaks may fall when reeds stand the storm. 芦苇耐风暴，橡树却会倒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Great oaks from little acorns grow. 万丈高楼平地起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 converted   

adj.更换信仰的，修改的v.（使）转变( convert的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）转化；皈依；改变（信仰）

参考例句：

• The hotel is going to be converted into a nursing home. 那家旅馆将被改建成私人疗养院。
• He's living in a converted loft in lower Manhattan. 他住在下曼哈顿的一间改建的阁楼里。 来自《简明英汉词典》