Can Public Golf Be Fixed or Do We Need to Stop "Growing the Game"?

Can Public Golf Be Fixed or Do We Need to Stop "Growing the Game"?

From Must Play - A Golf Podcast by FairWagers

May 28, 2026 · 1h 13m · Season 1 · Episode 53

About this episode

The episode discusses the current state of public golf, highlighting both its challenges and improvements.

Is public golf broken? In this episode of Must Play: Bonus Round, Shawn and T.J. tackle one of the biggest conversations in the golf world right now by breaking down what they believe public golf is getting completely wrong, while also shining a light on what it’s actually doing really well. Over the last few years, public golf courses have become more crowded, more expensive, and harder to access than ever before. Tee times disappear in the blink of an eye, the pace of play can feel atrocious, and golfers constantly debate whether the modern public golf experience is worth "growing the game" for. In this week's episode, we each bring three things we think need fixing in public golf and three things the golf industry is currently getting right. From tee time systems and rising greens fees to golf culture and beginner accessibility, we dig into the biggest frustrations facing everyday golfers while also giving credit to the areas where the game has genuinely improved. This isn’t just a vent session for Shawn and T.J. (well, maybe Shawn), but more so a conversation about what makes public golf great, what’s making it harder for average golfers to enjoy, and what changes could…

People in this episode

Hosts: Shawn, T.J.

Topics covered

  • public golf
  • golf experience
  • tee time systems
  • golf culture
  • beginner accessibility

Keywords

  • public golf
  • golf courses
  • tee times
  • greens fees
  • golf culture
  • accessibility
  • growing the game

Sponsors

DEVEREUX GOLF

More episodes of Must Play - A Golf Podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Must Play - A Golf Podcast podcast page.