West Indies: Everyone's second team

Gangnam style http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0

Sorry it's a bit late but congratulations to the West Indies for winning the T20 World Cup a couple of weeks ago. They really are everyone's second team when it comes to international cricket and no wonder when you've got some brilliantly entertaining players in their squad like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels to name a few. 20/20 is their game there's no doubt and the way they approach their cricket matches that. It's an infectious enthusiasm and it's great to see so much fun being had on a cricket field in all honesty! Long may it continue and we all hope the WI can take their T20 form into Tests and ODIs.

The relentless drive of technology

Not a week goes by when the subject of a technological advance in sport is not in the news. I can only speak from someone living in the UK but the everlasting drive of technology seems to touch sport all around the world. Recently the 'blade runner' paralympian Oscar Pistorius had a small rant in a post race interview about the rules regarding his blade length and classification for amputees. On the opposite side of the sporting spectrum, the English domestic rugby union season has started and the post-match discussions have been busy with talk about the changes to the use of technology by referees to review decisions. Here we go again everyone thought.

Will there ever be a time when sport fully embraces the advance of technology and change or will we be forever trying to escape its clutches? In some sports technology plays a minor role and in others it is the difference between winning and losing. Sport is littered with debates over the use of technology, from cricket and hotspot to football and lasers on the goal line. What can be agreed upon however, is that the technology available to use for whatever is reliable. The main problem is how the sports authorities see their game going forward. Do they see the abuse and bad decisions football referees get every week as a problem or publicity? Or would they rather use fully tested techniques such as goal-line technology or replays to stop the debates ranging off the pitch?

It lies at the heart of British sporting culture, an attitude to hang back on change until the last minute because we have it so good already. Having said that, it is only football that has shown this reluctance so publicly. County cricket was going through tough times 10 years ago with low attendance and even lower interest in the domestic leagues. To battle this 20/20 cricket was introduced, a type of cricket that all kids play at their local clubs. It incorporated new technology, new methods of training, new equipment and changing rules. In the last 10 years cricket has fully embraced the advances in replay technology such as Hawk Eye and hot spot. The success of these has been so great that they have now been incorporated into the rules of game in the Decision Review System. This was a change for the better of the game, however against the old order it seemed. Ironically the introduction of all this has led to the increasing quality of all other types of cricket, even test cricket.

Technology is pivotal and in many less popular sports it plays a role just as large as the athlete themselves. Professional cycling requires the most updated modern equipment around and if you don't have that you don't win, it is as stark as that. It is no coincidence that the Tour de France winning team, Team Sky, spend a large chunk of their £15 million budget on the best bikes, materials, clothing and training facilities. Whether you like it or not technology is essential to the fabric of sport. Traditionalists will always say how sport was better when it was simple and man versus man but science and technology has changed the outside world and so far sport has totally benefitted from the influence of technology on sports science and knowledge.

The USA use technology religiously in their national sports. The book-made-film Moneyball starring Brad Pitt showed the epitome of a technology and science based culture in baseball. Whether it was successful or not is not particularly relevant but it is something that now dominates American sport. NFL is known to be at the forefront of new technology and science within sport and many European football and rugby teams in Europe have seen this emphasis and applied it themselves in training equipment like heart rate monitors and high speed cameras.

It is a relentless advance but it is a massive benefit to the quality of the sport on show and the performance of sportspeople individually. In areas like rule changes and officiating technology that is effective and efficient has got to be used in a way that increases the enjoyment of the sport and fairness of which it is being played. There are always opponents to such changes; Sepp Blatter of FIFA has been against goal-line technology for years but finally the pressure has got untenable and it will be implemented soon. Technology as a whole has a bigger and bigger role in sport and must be embraced in a away that promotes the fairness and competition of sport.

How the European Ryder Cup team shapes up

Last week Jose Maria Olazabal announced a finalised European Ryder Cup Team culmonising in the two wild card picks of Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts. The overall verdict of the team is positive - after all its the best performing European players over around 2 years. The top 7 or so European players have been almost a certainty until a few weeks ago when Sergio Garcia hit form at the Wyndham Championship. The two wildcards were also fairly simply decided. Ian Poulter was not an automatic qualifier but due to his vast Ryder Cup experience and excellence he was a certainty. The second wildcard was more complex with a few players in the mix; Colserts, Harrington and Fisher among the outsiders. Here are my profiles of the European team:

1) Rory McIlroy
McIlroy took the world number one ranking following his second major win at the PGA Championship two weeks ago, arguably the least celebrated British win ever due to the backdrop of the Olympics. This will be Rory's second Ryder Cup and one that I'm sure he's looking forward to as he gets back to his best form. Questions were raised this year when he missed 4 out of 5 cuts, specifically blaming the effect of his relationship with tennis star Caroline Wozniaki. But after dumbing down the Ryder Cup before Celtic Manor 2010 he ate his words after the event describing it as the best thing he's ever played in, lets hope he has that same excitement this year.

McIlroy won't be criticising the Ryder Cup this time round.

2) Luke Donald
After an average 2012 and losing his number one ranking Luke Donald will be looking to go to Medinah in good form and good spirits. Donald has played 3 Ryder Cups and has a good record, particularly in foursomes and singles. Overall he has played 8 matches and lost only twice. His composure and brilliant ball striking will be hard to beat at Medinah, especially since the course is only a 30 minute drive away from his Chicago home. Although wins haven't come in abundance for Donald recently he can go into the Ryder Cup assured in his own game and in a familiar course.

3) Lee Westwood
Similar to Luke Donald, Westwood's 2012 hasn't been the most spectacular. A change of coach, an injured caddie, plans to uproot to the USA, it's been a busy year but the prospect of a Ryder Cup will instill Westwood with confidence because his fourball and foursomes record is good, 8 points from 13 matches. He has a wealth of experience in Ryder Cup golf and is acting more and more like an on-course captain.

A future European captain?

4) Justin Rose
In Justin Rose you've got a European and PGA Tour stalwart with a good couple of years moving up the world rankings. His 2011 win at the BMW Championship gave him the confidence to kick on and win rather than just contend. He brought that mental state to the WGC-Cadillac Championship this year to win. He partners well with Ian Poulter, so watch out those two taking on the Americans.

5) Graeme McDowell
2010 was a good year for the Northern Irishman. It was the year he won the US Open and the year he is remembered for sinking the winning putt at Celtic Manor. He is a grafter, cast in the same mould as Padraig Harrington, enjoys the pressure of team golf and will always pose a threat in Ryder Cups. 2011 was quiet year for McDowell but 2012 has looked much brighter. His excellent performances in all 4 majors will put him in good stead even though he has gone without a win this year.

6) Paul Lawrie
Arguably the most in form European golfer in 2012, Paul Lawrie has reignited his career with a win at the Qatar Masters, following a 2011 Open de Andalucia win. He has appeared in one Ryder Cup in his career, that being the 1999 event, which came on the back of his Open victory. He will relish a return to the Ryder Cup and Olazabal will enjoy having him on the team as another scrambler and wise head.

7) Sergio Garcia
One of the world's most popular players has come back to form at the perfect moment in 2012. Garcia has looked out of sorts for a couple of years but has finally found his feet again, in the nick of time. Team format undoubtedly makes him come alive as his cup record shows, a formidable force in pairs but less so in the singles. The fiery spaniard follows a famous tradition of Spanish players in the Ryder Cup and Garcia is no slouch compared to his predecessors of Olazabal and Ballesteros. We look forward to seeing Garcia at full throttle at Medinah, one of the most enjoyable sights in golf.

Another fiery Spaniard.

8) Francesco Molinari
Molinari has been his consistent best this season, hitting fairways and greens metronomically. He won the Open de Espana this year and looks to be in good form going into the Ryder Cup. His record of only half a point at Celtic Manor may be a worry but he has improved considerably since then, especially on his putting.

9) Peter Hanson
Peter Hanson has been a solid performer throughout 2012 with good performances in the Masters and PGA Championship. In 2010 he won twice to confirm his spot at Celtic Manor. However he has not sealed his selection as dramatically this year as in 2010 but in some ways has gained more confidence with European fans with his consistent play this season.

10) Martin Kaymer
Kaymer has certainly had a difficult 2012 and will be the player of most concern for Olazabal. His form dipped early this year when his attempted swing changes to suit the majors did not work out. However he is a talented player with a number of tour victories to his name, plus a major, and has made the squad automatically so it's not the end of the world. He is obviously still trying to find his best swing and lets hope he finds it before 25th September!

11) Ian Poulter
Arguably as Europe's trump card, Ian Poulter represents the ideal Ryder Cup player - passionate, competitive and persistent. He has personally said how he loves the "cut throat, face to face nature of matchplay" - and that's who you want on your team. He has a good record, 8 wins and 3 losses, and he comes into the Ryder Cup in decent form but with no wins to his name this year.

Poulter's ideal stage. 

12) Nicolas Colsaerts
The big hitting Belgian has grown in stature on the European Tour during 2011 and 2012. He has reached number 35 in the world after winning the China Open in 2011 and the Volvo Matchplay this year. The matchplay win was almost certainly a factor in Olazabal's wildcard choice. Another contributing factor is his length off the tee that will be necessary at Medinah to battle some of the American big hitters. As Europe's only rookie he will be hungry for success, especially as the Ryder Cup tends to produce the best in the majority of players.

Life after London 2012

Well it's over. The days after the weeks before. We've seen it all, triumph and disaster, greatness and disappointment. But as we withdraw back to normal life we can safely say it was an unforgettable experience and one that is unlikely to happen in our lifetimes again.

It all ended with a pretty crazy closing ceremony last night consisting of Russell Brand, The Who, George Michael and an inflatable octopus among a few things that set the Olympic stadium alight. It was another show spectacularly put on by the London organisers and a fitting conclusion to a magnificent 2 weeks of sport. Sport at its most pure and competitive; no spoilt brats, no arrogance, just the results of unimaginable hard work and dedication over the years.

Great Britain put on a show worthy of the greatest sporting event in the world and London was a picture of colour and excitement due to the brilliant range of venues draped around the capital. But as is the case with most big sporting events the decoration and entertainment are the side-show compared to the sport taking place. The pure dedication on show was something to behold and it is this that will form the solid foundation for the legacy formed after the Games. Watching Mo Farah push himself over the line for 2 gold medals and seeing the GB rowers force themselves into exhaustion to win would inspire anyone. These games were about athletes willing to focus on a single goal and do everything to achieve it - in Mo Farah's case uproot his family abroad to improve his training. Or Katherine Grainger who had to endure 3 silver medals in previous games before one final push to get her sought-after gold in London at the age of 36.

This was the people's games. A games in which its end result was due to the sum of its smaller working parts. Those parts being the endless families and groups of excited fans filing into the Olympic venues, the security and the 70,000 volunteers transiting the Olympic spirit to the swathes of people coming from their normal home life to experience it. Crowds were turning out at 10am to watch qualifying heats in the Olympic stadium when previously it would just be the knock out stages that drew all the crowds. The passion to support not just the home athletes but everyone on show is common in Britain and it seems this attitude spread to spectators of all nations.

The people who made the Games

The performances at London 2012 more than lived up to our expectations. The sporting greats of Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps lit up the games, particularly Bolt who defended his 100m and 200m crowns, the first time it had been done. Phelps meanwhile concluded his Olympic career as the most decorated Olympian ever with 22 medals in total. Chris Hoy became the most successful British Olympian ever, overtaking Sir Steve Redgrave by taking his tally to 6 gold medals and one silver.

For Team GB overall however it was the most successful Olympic Games in history with 29 golds and third place in the medal table, an amazing feat proportionally compared to China and USA. 'Super Saturday' was our best day culminating in Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Greg Rutherford all getting golds. It was an atmosphere around the country never seen before, like the country had all come together to push them faster and further to win gold. We also excelled in sports we expected; them being cycling and rowing especially. What was even more refreshing was how Team GB excelled in other sports no one knew much about like taekwondo, showjumping, dressage and triathlon. But when it came to the crunch everyone got behind the team and I've no doubt the support of the London crowd pushed them the fraction more to achieve their potential.

Jennis delivered under huge home-games pressure

The Olympics always throws out some amazing and inspiring moments. Remember Derek Redmond getting helped to the finish line by his dad in the 1992 400m? One of the most astonishing at London has to be Manteo Mitchell of the USA running in the 4x400m relay with a broken leg.. Drogba watch and learn.

Now all that's left of London 2012 is the legacy. The whole reason we won the bid to host the games in the first place. Many things during the last 2 weeks will have inspired not only sportspeople to work harder for their dreams, but also the every day person living the daily grind. You see people silently travelling to work everyday but during the games people were talking, chatting about the latest hero, comparing stats and exuding collective optimism. The power of sport is immeasurable in some ways, only when the dust settles and the last bit of Olympic advertising is taken down will you be able to see the legacy of the games. How many children will take up new sports? Will schools put more emphasis on sport from now on? Will more girls be encouraged to play sport?

We won't know for some time and indeed the 'legacy' put forward by Lord Coe actually started back when London won the bid. It will be interesting to see the results but what will be pivotal is how facilities are utilised by schools and clubs throughout the country. Facilities ensure sport can be played to better and better standards and there lies the problem with school sport. Kids play for a little bit when they're interested or forced to but it's not made part of their lifestyle when they get older into secondary school and beyond, where good facilities make the difference. The cynics will say the hysteria of the games will burn out in a few weeks and months but I think the magnitude of Britain's accomplishment here will make a lasting impact on the way sport is viewed in this country, especially Olympic sports. Lord Coe promised and he delivered, leaving vivid memories of Bolt, Ennis, Ainslie and Hoy emblazoned in our minds. All this inspiration has to go somewhere right?

Open - Day 1

View of 18th green at Lytham. It's a a very straight final hole but bunkers and thick rough pose a constant threat outside the safety of the fairways.

I like how it backs up onto the clubhouse but this Lytham clubhouse is a brilliant building in its own right. It provides an awesome viewing spot for those lucky enough to be let in there.

There's definitely an arena-type feel to the 18th green, hopefully adding to any drama that might present itself on the final day.

Had a tiring day in the golf zone but it was livened up by the visit of HSBC ambassadors Jonathan Davies, Gavin Hastings and Tim Henman who all had a go at the various activities. Great to see other sports legends (term used loosely) supporting the game of golf, especially in this country.

If you're new to pro golf tournaments one thing that stands out is how well these players hit the ball, consistently, effortlessly, every single time. Watching the players hit shots off the tee and on the practice ground really gives you a massive respect for their talents, particularly in their ball striking - which is simply unbelievable.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Off to the Open 2012

I'm on my way to Lytham St Anne's to work at the HSBC Golf Zone all week. I'll hopefully get to soak in the atmosphere and see some golf while I'm there.
I'll write some posts and put up some photos this week to hopefully give a bit of insight into the championship from where I am.

I'll be tweeting as well so any followers are welcome! @rivers02


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Calling all British media: your golfers needs you

As I sit and watch Wimbledon for another year and yet again watch the British players fall like flies I can't help but wonder why there is so much hype surrounding tennis and its media coverage. Wimbledon is obviously a traditional summer event in the UK and I think the coverage is deserved but the English public only really takes any notice of tennis when Wimbledon is on.

Golf is on the cusp of being a major sport in this country, I believe it's above tennis but below football, cricket and rugby union. What I fail to understand is how golf barely gets the coverage it deserves on the TV or in the newspapers when out of all the main sports played in the UK bar cricket we're the best at it. Particularly in the summer months when there is so much great golf going on in the world and as a nation we have so many world class players the media consistently leaves golf to the fringe pages of the sports section of newspapers and a short mention on news programmes. Football still dominates the sports pages even when the season is over and there's nothing to see apart from Joe Bloggs' £1 million move to Bradford City (no offence to Bradford City).

I go back to Wimbledon. Every year we only ever have one British hopeful, Andy Murray, with any hope of winning it but is still a fair distance behind the other top players in terms of quality. Every year we hype up the poor guy saying this is his year, this is the one... remind you England's football team much? Now this hype is in contrast with the annual whisper you hear when the British Open comes round. We have 4 British players in the top 10 that are genuinely world class plus several others that win consistently on European and PGA tours; that's one reason why golf deserves more coverage and interest in the UK. British players consistently compete in tournaments all round the world not just on home soil with the help of our great fans; there's another reason.

Luke Donald: No.1 in world but how many people appreciate that for a British sportsman?

We would all be immensely proud of our country if England managed to win a major football tournament or if Andy Murray won a major tennis championship. So why do so few people in the UK realise that British players genuinely compete to this level week in week out in professional golf? 

The media have the control over how much golf the public is exposed to and consequently how much the average person is likely to be interested. If the media committed to more golf coverage the entire game in Britain would get a boost and (this is a bit of a stretch) the general public would get a boost knowing that even though our football and tennis is lacking somewhat, our golfers are always doing us proud.

Bring golf back to the UK

How many professional golf tournaments are held in Great Britain annually? Let me ask another question, how many of those are held in England? The honest answer is not enough. In 2012 only two professional events will be held on English shores, one being the 141st Open Championship at Lytham St Annes, the other being the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. In essence one European Tour event is being held in England this year, the same as 2011 and 2010. Compare that to 2002 where there were five events, among them an English Open and International Open.

Where have those tournaments gone and why? Firstly, the name 'European Tour' holds little geographical significance as this year 20 out of 43 tournaments (including WGC events, excluding majors) are held outside of Europe. Golf really is a global game now and it's brilliant to see the big names playing in Australia one week and Spain the next. But Britain is the ancient heartland of the game and it seems the only time this is celebrated is at the Open. In the wind and rain of a British course are characters revealed and it's a shame this test is only seen at the Open and at the BMW Championship. Thank god there are still competitions in Scotland, Ireland and Wales because the game looks to be increasingly moving away from our shores to more lucrative areas.

As always it's all about the money. Sponsorship is the key to making a golf tournament the European Tour want to endorse and it's the reason why competitions haven't materialized in England for so many years. The English Open was first cancelled in 2003, rescheduled for 2009 but has been cancelled every year until sponsorship is agreed. It is a sad state of affairs when England can't agree big enough sponsorship deals. It's an Olympic year and golf is set to be included in the Olympics in 2016, surely it's a no brainer for  Of all the tournaments in the European Tour the ones that can pose the most unique conditions are the ones scrapped. Moreover the tournaments that have replaced them are non-events to many pros schedules.

This will seem like a digression but I go with it for good reason. The Masters is a brilliant competition, one of the best majors, if not the best. However I would argue the Masters has done an unbelievable marketing job on the world of golf. It only started in 1934 and is now regarded as the most historic and sentimental golf tournaments in the world. The home of golf is St Andrews and the Open is its traditional prize yet in many players' eyes the Masters jacket is the most sought-after possession in golf. This is what money and a brilliant marketing team will bring you in the long term. These are the kind of methods British and English golf should use more of and if they did we would have more pro tournaments and sponsorship to show off.

The top 3 players in the world are from Great Britain, two of them from England, from that we are more than deserving of professional golf events and the European Tour should open their eyes to this.

Mohammad Amir scandal

I recently watched the Mohammad Amir interview with Sky Sports' Michael Atherton about the spot fixing scandal and got a much better feeling of what went on back in 2010 when Pakistan toured England. I don't know about anyone else but the details were so sketchy when the story first broke and also afterwards and to hear what 19 year old Amir knew and felt about it was refreshing.

Obviously it was a mistake on his part; he'd been taken in by the web of corruption that stretched across Pakistani cricket and beyond. He co-operated with shadowy characters outside of cricket and sadly paid the price with prison time. What struck me was how close his relationship had been with the Pakistani captain Salman Butt. Amir told Atherton that he was like an older brother to him when he first started playing for Pakistan. It turned out Butt was the main person that encouraged Amir to get involved with the spot fixing, clearly betraying Amir's trust and disgracing his team and country.

Amir makes it clear he was pretty much tricked into co-operating with the spot fixers and didn't know about the money involved at all until the News of the World broke the story during the test match. From the Sky Sports interview you can really see how young Amir was at the time and still is. Just 18 years old when playing that test match, he had no idea what was going on, getting dragged into a shady underworld by his own captain, friend and confidant. You can tell from the way he speaks to Atherton that at the time he was just a boy enjoying his time in the limelight for taking a 5 wicket haul at Lords and prior to that being the youngest ever bowler to take 50 test match wickets. But this was when he was most vulnerable and I imagine Butt and the fixers knew this.

I have no doubt that Amir was being totally honest with Atherton in the interview. He was emotional but frank in his recounting of the events and it was reassuring to hear that Amir was proud to be playing for his country and was appreciative of what he had. However he also makes clear how vulnerable young players are starting out in professional sport and particularly in Pakistan which seems to be never too far from trouble. But from his own unique point of view he has the ability to warn other young stars about the pitfalls of corruption. I genuinely feel sorry for Amir and what he has been through but I hope he can come back strong after his 5 year ban because there is no doubt he has the talent, it's just whether he can handle the hysteria when that time comes.

Kony 2012

Not much to do with sport but plenty to do with using the internet to link ideas and raise awareness of a global cause...

SideSpin on Tumblr

SideSpin has just joined Tumblr so there's another place you can access our content. It'll mainly be for photos and videos because Tumblr is better for that stuff!

Here's the link:

http://sidespinsport.tumblr.com/

Wales win Triple Crown but England's future is bright

Just a quick one but I felt compelled to have a ramble about the England game against Wales after my nerves were shredded..

Well what an epic game from both sides at Twickenham today. I can't actually remember the last time I saw an England team create so much in attack and still defend so brilliantly. Obviously there were and still are questions about the inexperience of most of the squad but to be frank those players still in their England infancy like Farrell and Dickson outperformed the regulars.

There was a real brightness in England's play particularly in the first half, constant quick ball distributed well by Dickson and then Farrell marshalled the back line like an experienced pro.

A lot was made of the physicality of the Welsh squad but this was utterly quashed by some brutal running and tackling by Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barrit and even Owen Farrell. Talking of Farrell; I think he's absolutely one for the future (and present after today). He was so strong in defence and showed time on the ball only good players have. Again his kicking was immaculate (only missed one kick at goal) and his temperament second to none.

England's first half display of both attack and defence was a breath of fresh air after so much talk about having a boring back line with no penetrative runners. I like this England a lot, I like their attitude, their work ethic, their goals. It all looks good to me and I think it would be a shame to get rid of Stuart Lancaster after he's climbed England out of a rut so painlessly. He's connected with the players and reinvigorated them, this is what playing for England should be like.

But it seems like the times are moving on for Ben Youngs and Toby Flood. Both great players to have in the squad but from the performances today of Farrell and Dickson I think Lancaster will have a selection headache but may err on the side of the new boys for the game against France.

I admire Wales and their current success but they were poor today compared to previous performances. However credit to them because they produced a result when nothing was going their way, that classic sign of character.

Abu Dhabi spreads its influence.. again

As the sound of cork on willow can be heard across the desert and big bucks are earned at the HSBC Golf Championship this week, Abu Dhabi is the place to be, and indeed the place to compete. It's now well known to most sports fans that the Gulf has grown into a major hub of events; an annual visit to Dubai or Abu Dhabi for a professional sportsman is now routine.

Abu Dhabi has undoubtedly grown under the radar. Dubai was once the capital of business in this region but since the influx of sports events and incredible infrastructure in Abu Dhabi, Dubai has lost lost in lustre (in relative terms).

It's no mean feat to bag the rights to 3 European Tour events in a year, especially if it's mainly tourists that play the championship courses. You only have to look at the the kind of golfers attracted to this tournament to see the weight it has on tour. Even Tiger Woods is playing this year. It's an exciting place, there's no question, but is it not a little unfair that the UAE hosts 3 tournaments and England only hosts 1? I think that's a debate for another time.

Cricket has now become a major feature in Abu Dhabi. International and domestic teams flock there to play one-off matches, host pre-season tours, or in Pakistan's case use it as a home ground. The main catalyst of this presence is of course the heavy infrastructure and investment. And this investment can be exemplified by the building of the Ya Marina Circuit, the annual host of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

It is also no surprise that Manchester City football club have a lucrative partnership with Abu Dhabi, a partnership that extends its influence all over the world.

Abu Dhabi and the UAE in general, whether you like it or not, is the hub of the sporting world and is at the forefront of infrastructure and technological advances. It may go against sporting traditionalism but there is no doubt this hidden area of the world will influence global sport for a long time to come.

A high price to pay

The question of price in golf is a common one. In the past it was a game of those only that had the spare cash in their pockets, now its a much more accessible game and infinitely better for it. But for me the cost of a annual membership at a golf club, especially in these scarce times, is untenable. Yes, people still play golf in a recession but it is much more difficult and if clubs don't adjust to accommodate the average golfer then they're stuck in the past. People are going to the driving range rather than fork out for a round of golf.

As a student I try embarrassingly hard to get value for my money and although I would love to be a playing member at my local club I just can't afford it. I know for a fact this particular club doesn't have many junior or under-25 members and it is detrimental to the young people that enjoy their golf and desperately want to improve but can't afford the steep prices. A gap in the golf market is clearly there but it seems no one wants to fill it!