Link included below. Comments are from Jack Nicklaus complaining that advancement in golf ball technology is the reason for course closures.

I think some could draw a similar conclusion with the advent of new bowling ball technology.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/jack-nicklaus-blames-golf-ball-132904968.html

His view is from a course designers view.  Just like bowling centers.  Its always someone else fault.  The economics of the golf industry are heading down the same path that bowling took about 15 years ago.  There is no grass roots growth of the sport.  As the older generations quit the game there are no new ones to take their place.

His view is from a course designers view.  Just like bowling centers.  Its always someone else fault.  The economics of the golf industry are heading down the same path that bowling took about 15 years ago.  There is no grass roots growth of the sport.  As the older generations quit the game there are no new ones to take their place.

Exactly. If the land a business occupies is worth more for another purpose, then there will always be someone willing to redevelop. Drive In movie theaters, Bowling Alleys, Golf Courses, Older style shopping centers are all destined to be replaced in a lot of areas.

Based on what Jack is saying you could make the comparison.  But unlike bowling, most in the golf world do not feel it is the ball that is the culprit of the decline in participation.  At least golfers understand economics are more to blame.

And Jack has been complaining about golf balls for years, this is nothing new. 

It is funny, and not a coincidence, that bowling and golf have had a lot of tech advances, and that the regulatory bodies of both sports have invested a lot of time and money into researching the same basic physics of round, spinning objects traveling toward a distant target.  They have researched coefficient of restitution (COR), rebound/spring effect, surface dynamics, core size/shape/rg/diff and cover hardness or softness, to name a few.  Different games, but not so different issues.

The new elite young players are intelligent, physically gifted, well schooled in their craft from a young age and unafraid to go for broke. The advantage of experience is still present, but at times it shrinks in the face of someone who matches their game up very well with the conditions at hand. Hate it if you want, but I can tell you from my experience that whining never improved my game, or attitude, but hard work and a willingness to try something different or uncomfortable can yield results if you really want to continue to try and be your best!

but golf is alot more popular then bowling

This thread is a Sawbones flashback.   

Since, I am involved in the golf industry I can male a few points from the Nicklaus article.  I would agree from a professional standpoint or those that have 105+mph driver swing speed that can take advantage of the new ball that they have made some courses outdated and too short.  ie. Merion, Baltusrol, etal.  Look what the USGA has had to do to play these old gems.  Look what Augusta National has had to do with lengthening it's course for The Masters.

BUT, how many players have 105+ driver SS?  less than 15% of the golfing public. None of us are PGA pros nor PBA pros. So, that discussion is down the tubes. 

The main reason golf has dropped off is the pace of play and amount of time one is going to put into a sport (note I say sport golf is a way harder endeavor to master than bowling given the parameters and playing rules of the different sports.)  Most can't give 4 to 5 hours to a game.  Hence why we have a proliferation of 3 person leagues which take 1:30 hours.  Majority of bowlers don't want to bowl 3 hour 5 man leagues. 

The First Tee golf youth program is much like the USBC youth program.  I doubt there is much difference there depending on locality.

There are many other reasons but I touched on a few that relate to the Nicklaus article and golf vs. bowling in general.

BTW....Mr. Nicklaus is one of those that supports Tee It Forward.

Research shows there are almost twice as many "bowlers" as there are "golfers" in the US when you compare participation.  Over 24 million people played golf at least once in 2015 while 45.9 million people bowled at least once in 2015.  There were almost 2 million league bowlers while there were very few golf league members.

I believe the main reason for the discrepancy in sponsorship funds is the demographic.  Golf draws in a more affluent demographic with more disposable income and thus the marketing of it is different.  I can't imagine a time in the near future where bowling will pass golf in that aspect.

What is more surprising is the number of bowling centers in the US is hovering around 4900 yet the number of golf courses is over 15,000.