– We had a fight here two weekends ago. Two golfers argued that it was too late and started hitting each other, says greenkeeper Jan Roger Nordnes at Stavanger golf club. This is how it goes when a record number of people want to play golf and there is a queue in front of the holes at Stokkavatnet in Stavanger. Nordnes therefore recommends that people book well in advance. And father and son Arve and Simon Serigstad have done just that. They have set the alarm clock to get time for quality time on the golf course. Jan Roger Nordnes is greenkeeper at Stavanger golf club. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news – I saw on the booking system “golfbox” that there was someone who hit five out of nine in the evening. It’s almost never free, says Simon. Several players that news meets on the golf course in Stavanger say that they have to book several days in advance to get a place. Father and son Serigstad are not the only ones who have made the trip to the golf course on Wednesday morning. From 06 o’clock it flows in with people who want to get in a round before duty calls. Victor Fykse Furseth and Pia Eide are betting on golf, and to get in a workout they have to get up early. Victor Fykse Furseth. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news Furseth points out that there was a flourishing during the pandemic. He believes that the good weather in summer also contributes to more people jumping on the golf wave. – It’s nice, but it would have been nice if there was a little more free time to play, says Eide. Pia Eide. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news Increase of 26 per cent On 31 May 2023, there were 125,875 memberships in golf clubs in the country. There is an increase of 32,689 memberships since 31 May 2019 – or 26 per cent. And the members keep pouring in. In Stavanger golf club, they will soon have to say no to new golf enthusiasts who want to jump on the bandwagon. It will be the third year in a row that the club fills up the places. – It started with the pandemic. In 2019 we had 1,600 members, and today we are around 1,950 and will soon have to close the doors, says manager of Stavanger golf club Frode Vassbø. Frode Vassbø, manager of Stavanger golf club. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news And that’s how it is all over the country, especially in the big cities, we are to believe the general secretary of the Norwegian Golf Association, Tor-Anders Hanssen. In Oslo, there is a so-called undercoverage of 20,000 players. Hanssen therefore wants more smaller golf facilities and training facilities. – There is a danger that new and young golfers will turn away from the sport because they do not get playing time, he says. – Not so expensive Commentator and former one of the country’s leading golfers Per Haugsrud says that more and more people are discovering that they can combine the sport with recreation and nature experiences. – But it is expensive equipment? – No, I think it is the wrong stamp. It’s not as expensive as you might think. The equipment can last for over 20 years and you can almost sell it for what you gave. He also highlights world stars Suzann Pettersen and Viktor Hovland as important influences. Suzann Pettersen is Norway’s best golfer of all time. Photo: Richard Heathcote / Getty Images More young people are interested Golf had the advantage that it was one of the few sports that could be played during the pandemic. Tor-Anders Hanssen, general secretary of the Norwegian Golf Association. Photo: Press image – It meant that many who wanted to, but who might not have had the time, could start playing golf, says general secretary of the Norwegian Golf Association, Tor-Anders Hanssen. He is particularly pleased with the growth among children and young people – which is probably also greatly helped by the Norwegian stars Viktor Hovland and Celine Borge. – We have had a reputation for being a sport for adults, but now we see that we also attract many young people, says Hanssen.
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Golf experiences tremendous growth – must book days in advance to play – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
