It’s Time We Prepare for the Next “Tiger Wave”

With news today of Tiger Woods’ intentions of playing both the Valspar Open and Arnold Palmer Invitational, it may be time for us to prepare for a flood of new golfers this summer. Otherwise known as a “Tiger Wave.”

After a good recovery week I’m committing to play in the @ValsparChamp and @APinv next two weeks.

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 2, 2018

Back when Tiger Woods was rolling the competition and winning Major after Major, the game of golf saw growth it had never experienced before. In 1999, a record number 509 new golf courses were opened with another 936 under construction. According to the National Golf Foundation, in the following year, participation in the sport surged to numbers the game had never seen before.

Many of us were part of that surge.

Then there were the golfers that had been playing for years up to that point and had to endure that surge.

Very soon, this could be us.

While many of us may have started playing this wonderful game because of Tiger Woods, it’s the game itself that has kept us around. And while we fell in love with it, many moved on to the next thing. Leaving us with a plethora of tee times and wide open fairways.

Okay, maybe not all of the time. But any club professional will tell you it’s not nearly as busy as it used to be.

This next wave could be even bigger than the previous one. The 2017 National Golf Foundation Participation Report showed an increase in both committed golfers (you and me) and off-course participation (ranges and TopGolf). Tiger Woods being back could be enough to push those off-course participants onto a course.

So while I’m right there with the rest of you celebrating the return of the greatest golfer we have ever seen. Don’t think it won’t come without a little consequence for us on the golf course.

Prepare yourselves.

Cover Image via Twitter