Thanks to Colorado Springs resident Judy Bell becoming the first — and only — female president in the history of the USGA — in 1996 — Colorado already has a very notable distinction regarding women at the highest levels of golf administration.
Now another female from the state appears to be picking up where Bell left off. Christie Austin of Cherry Hills Village joined the powerful USGA Executive Committee in 2007, and recently took over as treasurer of the USGA. In addition, she just became the first woman ever appointed chairperson of the USGA Rules of Golf Committee, which works with the R&A in establishing and interpreting rules standards worldwide.
“I have been interested in the rules since I got on the Executive Committee, so for me to receive the call from (new USGA president) Glen Nager asking me to not only sit on the Rules of Golf , but to chair the Rules of Golf Committee was an incredibly welcome surprise and honor,” Austin said Saturday. “I’m thrilled.”
As she’s become one of the most powerful women — or person of either gender, for that matter — in the world of golf administration, Austin is in a position to effect change in the game on several levels. And with golf facing very challenging times these days, she doesn’t appear to be shying away from the tasks at hand.
On Saturday, as keynote speaker at the 2012 Season Tee-Off Luncheon presented by the Colorado Golf Alliance (the CGA, CWGA, Colorado PGA and Rocky Mountain course superintendents), Austin set forth the very ambitious agenda that awaits the USGA in its role as a power player in the world of golf. (Austin is pictured above with CGA president Tom Lawrence.)
Noting that the number of golfers in the U.S. dropped 13 percent from 2005 to 2010 while rounds decreased about 5 percent, Austin laid out some of the big-picture items on the USGA’s plate these days.
“At a time when the game faces increasingly complex challenges — from the cost and time required to play the game, from the environment and the economy, and from a history and perception that the game is unwelcoming to some — we must recommit ourselves to the USGA’s mission,” she said in addressing many prominent members of Colorado’s golf community.
“… Sustaining the game will require the USGA to do more. We have to promote a more enjoyable, more affordable and more welcoming experience for golfers. Without fundamentally changing the game itself, there are clear and present opportunities for the USGA.”
Austin outlined some of the ways the USGA and other key players in golf can help the game “evolve” to grow in the 21st century while maintaining its traditions and values. Some of the key topics she indicated that must be addressed are:
— The cost of golf and how much time it takes to play.
— The length of courses and how they’re set up.
— The complexity of the game’s rules.
— Environmental perceptions of the game and becoming better stewards of resources.
— Making golf more welcoming, particularly for women and minority groups.
To sustain the game as times change, Austin said the USGA is looking to take proactive steps on all of these fronts.
Some issues lead to problems in several different areas.
“For the past two years, the USGA has been a leading advocate for sustainable water management practices,” Austin said. “Firm and fast golf course conditions can make the game more fun. Responsible use of water also translates directly into economic benefits for courses, and ultimately for golfers. It is critical that we grow our sustainability initiative, but to sustain the game we must do more.
“We also need to re-examine the acreage that is used on modern golf courses. Today’s longer, wider and more immaculately groomed golf courses consume excessive resources. That makes golf more expensive, causing it to be put further beyond the economic reach of many. Length also impacts pace-of-play enjoyment. Longer courses take longer to walk and are also harder to play. Five-plus hour rounds have become too common, and for too many golfers, they are just not as much fun.”
Austin believes the “Tee it Forward” campaign supported by the USGA and the PGA of America addresses some of those problems. It advocates educating golfers about playing the set of tees that best fits their skill level and driving distance. Tee it Forward notes that for many amateurs, playing a course at 6,700 yards is the equivalent of PGA Tour players competing on an 8,100-yard layout.
“And you wonder why we’re frustrated that we can’t hit greens in regulation?” Austin said.
In last year’s pilot program for Tee it Forward, Austin said more than 235,000 golfers participated, and the great majority indicated that they had more fun by moving to a more forward set of tees. But that program alone isn’t a panacea, Austin said.
“For us to truly sustain the game, we must reset expectations to advocate for and embrace courses that are shorter, more smartly set up, more affordable and more fun for the average recreational golfer,” she noted.
Another issue is golf reaching under-represented demographic groups, drawing them into the game and keeping them in it.
“In making the game more welcoming, we must also look at who is playing the game,” Austin said. “Women and minorities have for too long faced obstacles preventing their full participation in the game. Also, the game has had very low penetration in the Hispanic community. It is incumbent on us to advocate a vision for the game that is truly open and welcoming. That is how we must sustain the game.”
Austin said new USGA initiatives with the PGA of America and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America are important steps, as are efforts by the USGA and PGA to document the history of African-American golf, and supporting programs like LPGA-USGA Girls Golf that provide opportunities for girls to learn the game.
And with golf returning to the Olympics in 2016 for the first time in 112 years, Austin said the game should “embrace the multicultural vision for the sport” so that the game grows more quickly in areas such as South America, Africa and Asia.
Another issue is one where Austin can conceivably have the most immediate impact in the near term. That involves simplifying the rules and making them more user-friendly.
“In creating a greater understanding and appreciation for the Rules of Golf, we will continue in efforts to simplify the rules, to make the game more welcoming and fun,” she said. “Toward this goal, we support rules education programs for recreational golfers.
“For the first time in recent history we withdrew more rules than we added (for the period starting this year). Many decisions were simplified and clarified. We hope that this is a trend, and if I have anything to say about the matter, it will be a trend.”
Overall, it’s clear that the USGA — including Austin and the rest of the leadership team — has much on its “for the good of the game” agenda in the coming months and years.
“As you can see, we (at the USGA) are engaged in helping address the game’s issues, and have much work to do,” she said.
On a more local level, Austin noted that in many respects, Colorado is ahead of the curve in developing ideas that are productive for the game.
“In my position with the USGA, I’ve had the opportunity to work with associations from all over the United States,” she said. “Without a doubt, we have two of the very best managed associations in the country (in the CGA and CWGA). In fact, many of the practices we have used (in Colorado) for years have become best practices across the country. We are incredibly lucky to have the talent of (executive directors) Robin (Jervey) and Ed (Mate) at the helm, especially at a time when associations are struggling to survive, much less thrive.”
