The lure of the fairway seems to be losing its appeal, as fewer and fewer people are playing golf these days:

The total number of people who play has declined or remained flat each year since 2000, dropping to about 26 million from 30 million, according to the National Golf Foundation and the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.

More troubling to golf boosters, the number of people who play 25 times a year or more fell to 4.6 million in 2005 from 6.9 million in 2000, a loss of about a third.

The industry now counts its core players as those who golf eight or more times a year. That number, too, has fallen, but more slowly: to 15 million in 2006 from 17.7 million in 2000, according to the National Golf Foundation.

The suspected problem is the time commitment: Four hours to get in 18 holes, which is a lot to squeeze out of a weekend these days. I admit, a big reason why I never showed much interest in the game was because I could think of better ways to waste my leisure time; a couple of golf-obsessed friends back in the day certainly seemed to practically live on the course on Saturdays and Sundays.

I have an innovative solution to draw the crowds: Screenings of Caddyshack at the 18th hole! That’s major motivation for plowing through a full course, I’d say.