The BC Golf Association is surveying their member opinions on cannabis because legalization is coming up fast Oct. 17 and the BCGA wants to know if cannabis use should be allowed on golf courses, much like alcohol and tobacco are permitted at numerous courses, according to a story from Global News.
But golf is a famously traditional and conservative sport (for example, the PGA of America had a “Caucasian-only” clause until 1961), and so one wonders how fast or enthusiastically golfers will take to cannabis, and there appears to be a sizable generation gap.
According to Global News:
“Early results show more than half of golfers under age 35 plan to light up a joint on the links, with two-thirds of that age group viewing it the same as drinking or smoking.
Fewer than one in 10 players aged 55 and over say they’re planning to smoke marijuana and just one-third of the older age group sees cannabis as the same as booze or cigarettes.”
As BC Golf CEO Kris Jonasson told Global News, “If you’re having a beer on the golf course, you’re not really disturbing the people that you’re playing with. If you’re smoking cannabis on the golf course, there is an odour and some people may find that odour offensive.”
While Mr. Jonasson has a point that smoking cannabis can be more bothersome for non-users than drinking a beer, the exact same thing could be said about cigarettes and cigars, which are allowed on many golf courses.
Being cannabis-friendly could help golf attract new and younger players
With more golf courses closing than opening across the country and a lack of new millennial players taking up the sport, golf’s growth has stagnated over the last few years. Allowing cannabis to be smoked on golf courses could be the godsend that revitalizes interest in the sport, especially among the much-coveted millennial demographic who see golf as the sport of stuffy old men, and complain that golf takes too long to play, is difficult to master, and is way too expensive.
We all know how cannabis can warp your perception of time and make you more patient and easy-going, and maybe if you were allowed to blaze one as you did your rounds, it would cut down on the frustration and swearing that can result from a bad tee-off making the game a much more peaceful and relaxing experience for everyone while attracting new people who normally wouldn’t be interested.
It would also give people a place to consume, especially in light of bans on public cannabis smoking in some municipalities and no decision yet on consumption lounges.
There are already cannabis-friendly golf events like the Fore20 Tournament
This comes on the heels of the 3rd annual Fore20 Golf Tournament, which happened on Aug. 19 at the Squamish Valley Golf Club, which is one of Canada’s biggest cannabis-friendly golf events, and judging by the turnout of the sold-out tournament, there’s huge potential for golf and cannabis making an excellent pair on the green.
Most famously, the Fore20 has a special Dab Cart along with a cannabis cup competition and a Farmer’s Market, and it’s always a great day to meet new people, smoke some cannabis, and have fun.
For a list of winners from Sunday’s Fore20 event, click here.
Want in on the survey?
The BCGA has teamed up with Inside Golf magazine to conduct the survey, and the results of the poll will be found in the Fall issue of Inside Golf’s print magazine and the September edition of BC Golf’s online magazine, The Scorecard.
The survey has been available for only a week so far, but it’s already received over 4,000 responses! If you’d like to participate in the “Marijuana Golfer” survey, follow the link here.
Featured image courtesy of Cannabis Insight.
Sources
Global News: High tee times? B.C. Golf surveys members on marijuana use ahead of legalization.
National Post: As courses close and millennials turn their backs, golf reckons with uncertain future.