[Bill Shamleffer]

A very interesting article - for many reasons - in today's Wall Street Journal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120718283035984931.html?mod=sports

Here is a sample:
Golf had a slow start in Sweden, beginning as an elitist sport. Five decades after the first golf club in the country was founded at the turn of the 20th century, only 7,000 players were divided among 38 clubs.

FAMILY FARE

In the 1960s, however, the country's golf federation began promoting the game as an inexpensive family sport. Today, some 600,000 Swedes are registered golfers, with 90,000 under the age of 21. The country counts 480 golf clubs. No municipal courses exist because none are needed; the private clubs are open to all. Since there are so many players, membership fees are minimal, averaging $500 a year for adults and $200 for children. If that's too much, players can pay a daily green fee.

[Phil_the_Author]

Because Bermuda greens can only be built where it is warm... 

[Mike_Cirba]

Bill,

A real emphasis on providing great junior programs and government supported public golf.

[Joe Bausch]

Are there things in common between program(s), etc, in place in Sweden with those in South Korea?  Is it just a huge (not Hugh Wilson!) statistical anomaly that accounts for the high percentage of South Koreans on the LPGA tour?

[Mark Bourgeois]

I think the WSJ is a little late to this insight.  Hasn't the participation rate among Sweden's youth taken a troubling turn downward?

[Voytek Wilczak]

Bill,

A real emphasis on providing great junior programs and government supported public golf.

+1

Same thing with the Czech Republic (formerly part of Czechoslovakia) churning out great tennis and hockey players.

[David_Tepper]

Eric Franzen, who has been an active poster on this board in the past, works for the Swedish Golf Federation. If he sees this post, he will likely respond with an insider's perspective.
 
Don't forget that the Swedes had a very strong run in mens tennis in the wake of Bjorn Borg's successes, with Stefan Edberg, Matts Willander and others winning major championships and becoming top world-class players.

My sense is the Swedes are well organized in the coaching and development of young players and their sports federations receive funding from the government to support the process.

I was at the Scottish Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Royal Dornoch last June (most definitely watching, NOT playing! ).  The Swedish Golf Federation sent a team of at least 6 players and a coach and I am guessing the SGF funded the trip. The Swedes practiced together and wore similar outfits (uniforms?) each day.  It did not appear to me that the players from any other country were there in such an organized manner.

Socialism does have its upside!  

[Jim_Kennedy]

I see the overarching reason as one of access and affordability. 'Superstars' can come from any walk of life when you allow everyone the chance to play.

[Lou_Duran]

1. Demographics
2. Specialization
3. Not as many other sports alternatives professionally or even recreationally?

U.S. has a larger population per golf course (19,000 vs. 16,700), but far fewer active golfers per course (815 vs. 1,250).

Players from Sweden make up 10% (including Daniel Chopra who was born there, but apparently grew up in India) of the men's World Ranking Top 100, while U.S. players make up 35%.

In drawing conclusions from the linked article and this thread, it might be worthwhile to consider the other major professional sports in the U.S. and elsewhere- baseball, basketball, football, hockey, tennis, soccer, etc.  I don't have any evidence, but I suspect that  Sweden's contribution to the rosters of these sports may be underwhelming.       

[Wayne_Kozun]

it might be worthwhile to consider the other major professional sports in the U.S. and elsewhere- baseball, basketball, football, hockey, tennis, soccer, etc.  I don't have any evidence, but I suspect that  Sweden's contribution to the rosters of these sports may be underwhelming.       

Sweden would have a far greater participation in NHL hockey on a per capita basis than would the US.  In fact many of the top players in the NHL for the last 25 years have been Swedish and Sweden has won the Olympic Gold recently.  Sweden has some  top soccer players as well and while they don't have that many top tennis players today they have in the past.  Not so much when it comes to baseball, football and basketball.

[RJ_Daley]

Wayne, it isn't so much about the Swedes demographics, specialization,
or other sports alternatives professionally or even recreationally, for Lou?

The obvious fact that Sweden is in no way "underwhelming" in placing a significant number of people on high achievement or rosters of sports they DO participate in, escapes Lou. 

It is about his pledge and mission to challenge the use of the word or notion of 'socialism' where ever it is uttered of offered as a rationale for anything... even their achievements in better outcomes and universality of covered citizens in medicine! 

[Lou_Duran]

Oh Comrade Daley, at the very least you're consistent.  But why must you always be so damned WRONG? 

I merely suggested that one needs to look beyond one rather simple observation of incomplete data before drawing wide conclusions.  I realize that it is hard for you to look at the plethora of facts which challenge whatever cozy notion of how the world works imprinted in your noodle 50+ years ago.  I know, Dick, workers of the world unite!  Vive le Revolucion!  Free healthcare and free golf for all! 

Actually, if one wanted to make your argument- that of equating socialism and achievement in sports or is it socialized medicine?- Cuba may actually be a better example than Sweden.   Come to think of it, I think you might have in the past.  I do understand that it is much easier to immigrate to the People's Diverse Paradise of Cuba than to the Homogenized Monocultured Social Democracy of Sweden.  You would probably make a better boxer than a golfer anyways, and there are too damned many filthy rich people in Sweden anyways.  If you need some help in moving, let me know.

But all kidding aside, if anyone knows how to get a hold of Eric Franzen, he could provide some real insights.  BTW, on the men's golf tours, have any Swedes won a major?  What inferences can be drawn from this?  Maybe this weekend will be a breakthrough. 
 





   

[Brian Phillips]

In drawing conclusions from the linked article and this thread, it might be worthwhile to consider the other major professional sports in the U.S. and elsewhere- baseball, basketball, football, hockey, tennis, soccer, etc.  I don't have any evidence, but I suspect that  Sweden's contribution to the rosters of these sports may be underwhelming.       

Lou,

Three of the six sports you mentioned are not really played at all in Sweden or Scandinavia for that matter.  Basketball  is played but it is not a major sport here.

The success is down to a type of socialism in that no golf club in Scandinavia can be a member of it's ruling body without a certain % of children members.

Junior membership is the norm over here, If i didn't see lots of kids on the golf course over here I would wonder what was going on, it is that normal.  I love seeing a four ball of kids carrying their bags that are almost as big as themselves and walking a golf course. No carts for kids in Scandinavia...and only if you have a doctors note from your doctor on many courses I know for adults.

We are doing a design and build at Stavanger golfklubb in Norway as I write (I am living on site) and they have existed as an 18 hole golf course since the 50's.  They encouraged junior golf so much that they built their own junior clubhouse right next to the main clubhouse so that the kids would feel welcome and have their own place to have.

Sweden is a very strong sporting nation, especially in winter sports, athletics, football (that sport you guys call soccer and the rest of the world call football), swimming and equestrian sport.

The Norwegian Golf Union and Football Union, now have a rule that 50% of board members in the clubs must be women.  The football union only this year stopped those clubs without this equality from voting at the year AGM this year and the representatives from those clubs had to leave the room while voting took place.

It is all about equality...which in the end is Socialism...which also means I get taxed to death but it keeps my wife as she is a communist by heart....

[RJ_Daley]

Lou, you are slowing up.  It took you over an hour to come up with your spuriously ascribing my statements as a hail to socialism as the reason for Sweden's achievement in sports.  It was you that predictably jumped up upon Tepper's mention of 'socialism'.  I only pointed out your apparent life's mission to save us from the socialists, no matter the issue or implication.  And, as usual, you assumed the wrong spin on the data, saying that the Swedes participation in a list of sports was 'underwhelming'.  As anyone knows who follows, from the list you gave, the ones the Swedes actually pursue as nationwide popular sports, they excel quite well, perhaps even disproportionately so.  It took Brian the Swede to point out that the concept of equality (of opportunity and facility to participate in sports) whether that is socialistic or just plain in the national psyche to promote fairness and equality of opportunity, really is at the heart of the matter. 

One might conclude in the realm of sports achievment: exclusionary-private+cost/class barrier = bad.
Inclusionary, fair and equal access+ affordable and part of national policy trait to promote equality = good.... same with health care, which may actually be related to the health/sports nexis. 

And, I really do get the distinction between  fear and repression in Cuba, which is no where near the constitutional monarchy with liberal freedoms the Swedes enjoy.  I can't imagine why you'd try to pin that on me unless it is from the Rovian play book... 

nighty nite.

[Sean_A]

Sweden doesn't really participate in all that many high awareness international sports.  Hockey, football and golf are the obvious three and to be fair, the Swedes to very well in these sports, especially in hockey.  Its my belief that players from Sweden, Russia and a few other European countries have vastly improved the NHL and its marketability - essentially, these guys have created a modern NHL which has gained a true international flavour.  I would say that Sweden does much better than one would expect on the international stage.  Remember, the population of Sweden is roughly equal (it could be less!) than the population of NYC.   

There are other sports which Sweden has done well in the past such as skiing and tennis.  And still other sports that are low profile in which Sweden does well in such as equestrian events.  In fact, I think horse stuff (I know very little about it, but my seeester in law is into this stuff) is hugely popular amongst females in Sweden.  In short, Sweden is sport mad and the government supports this craze whole heartily partly because its more expensive not to when one starts to consider health issues. 

Ciao

[Ian Andrew]

I wrote this a couple of years ago - but there's some good facts in this.

The number one reason children stay with any game is because they have fun, and the main reason they leave is (of course) because it no longer is fun. While some kids mention exercise, developing skills, or the enjoyment of competition, the “fun factor” is still by far the main reason to draw kids in and keep them through to becoming adults.

The Model of Sweden

Sweden has presented the world with a fascinating model that many are trying to emulate due to its overwhelming success. The Swedish have brought many new players to the game by changing the way things are done. One of the keys to their success has been by promoting the game primarily as a family sport. What is most impressive in their participation numbers are the numbers of players under the age of 20, and even more impressive is the number of overall players who are women. The model I mentioned in the “Girls Club” (a Canadian push) is actually one adopted from Sweden where they first recognized the differences between how to encourage boys with competition and girls with friendships – the numbers speak for themselves.

The overall population of the county is 9,000,000 with golfers representing 600,000 or 15%. This is up from the around 8% in the 1980’s. The percentage of player under 20 is approximately 15%. The percentage of women’s play is 27%.
One of the great factors to the large percentage of junior golfers in the system is the club structures. There is a unique system to Sweden where juniors can be members at clubs, with the club having no obligations to accept them as members when they become adults. It creates a system where more juniors have access to more places to play.

Producing More Professionals

So again returning to Sweden, why has a country with a much smaller population produced far more professional players? The first answer from the professionals themselves was that they began in an environment that had little initial pressure. The majority of clubs have developed programs based around participation first and assisting aspiring players on much later on. They also foster a system with well educated youth leaders who provide everything from coaching through to mentoring to help them progress.

As players developed the programs changed too. Rather than try place players into a standard program the Swedish believe in tailoring a program to suit the player. They also encourage players to mix their training and maintain activity beyond golf. Cross-training was important to skills development as it was to maintaining the interest in what they were doing. They also arranged special privileges at some clubs to make sure a very promising junior had the ability to practice and play more.

Interestingly competition pressure was discouraged until they were old enough to deal with it, although a young player that thrived under competition was allowed to compete right away. In other words they were flexible to the child’s needs. They also discovered that just playing was not the best way to develop skill, rather a larger emphasis was placed on getting the motor skills established by hitting more balls and learning to make a solid impact. The other very simple system was to not practice at each component of the game equally, but rather to encourage more practice on the weakest part of the game. Finally, they didn’t try to stay to one coach per player, but realized we all have strengths and weaknesses, and that multiple coaches with specific skills did a far better job than one single person.

[JSPayne]

Having lived (and golfed) in Sweden for a year as a Rotary Exchange Student, I can attest to the following:

- I would venture to say that Sweden puts a higher emphasis on outdoor sports/activity than anywhere else I've been to. As mentioned above, many of the activities are very family focused, enabling younger sports players to be mentored and spend time with their favorite coaches, their parents. In the winter, all students get a week of essentially "winter sports break" in addition to the normal spring break that we experience here in the states. This break is entirely devoted to encouraging kids to get out and participate in winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, snow-shoeing, etc. There is also a standing law (or at least I was told), essentially translated into "Every Man's Right" in which no one person has sole private claim to any open land. Anyone has the right to spend the night (i.e. camping) anywhere in the country, even on someone else's "property" and while it is kind and customary to give them notice, no one may kick someone off their land. A society grown on enjoyment, love and appriciation of the outdoors should gravitate toward a sport like golf. More than once I got questioned as to why, when our country has vastly more impressive natural landmarks and sights than Sweden, does our country's anthem revolve around war while theirs is entirely about harmony with the land. Try not sounding like an "ugly American" when answering that one.

- I agree with previous posters in that they have an excellent junior program, one which I would love to see here in the US. Even as an 18 year old when I went over there, before I could play on ANY course, I had to participate in a "Greens Card" program. To do this, you have to be paired up with an established golfer, preferably a member at a course. Their job is to mentor you, show you the basics of the game, the ettiquette, the rules, and then have to play at least 5(I think?) rounds with you, mark up your score and teach you the handicapping system (all self maintained) and sign off on your card that you have received all this instruction. Sure there are those who venture out to play without this card, but technically, any supervisor of a course may ask anyone at any time to see their card and ask them to leave the course if they have not obtained one. I never saw an unpolite, loud, super slow, disrepectful group of golfers over there. The kids on the course were some of the best behaved and politest I saw in the whole country.

While Socialism definetely has it's drawbacks, it was sure a great place to live and experience while I was there......ever since I've seriously pondered returning for good. As long as you don't mind the cold. 

[Dan Herrmann]

I see the overarching reason as one of access and affordability. 'Superstars' can come from any walk of life when you allow everyone the chance to play.

Can you say "Ouimet"?

[Jim_Kennedy]

Can you say "Ouimet"?- Dan Hermann

What are you trying to say Dan?   

If you don't think that making golf more affordable, thereby making it more accessible, thereby increasing the pool of players,  wouldn't increase the odds of finding more talent, then I guess I'm wrong.

[Dan Herrmann]

Jim - I just meant that Ouimet was a young man given a chance to play, and he succeeded in golf and in life.  A wonderful role model.  I think we completely agree.

Of course we need more accessabilty and affordability.  Back in the '80s when I started, I could play either of two muni courses (one of which held a USGA Publinx in 1962) for $60 PER YEAR!    I rode my bike every day, and towed my clubs on a cart behind me.  Trust me, there were a lot of kids and seniors out there.  Bag lines of 1.5 hours were common, but there was nowhere I'd rather be than there.  Great times with great friends.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

A friend of mine here was a world class pole vaulter for 10 years and ended up married to a Swedish girl. He has been pushing me to go to Sweden for a few years now for the reasons including better golf than advertised and those female traits the other Tiger noticed. It is a family sport there and has the highest ratio of female golfers in the world. I do think this is part of the either real or percieved high number of quality golfers from Sweden relative to population.

[Lou_Duran]

Lou, you are slowing up.  It took you over an hour to come up with your spuriously ascribing my statements as a hail to socialism as the reason for Sweden's achievement in sports.  It was you that predictably jumped up upon Tepper's mention of 'socialism'.  I only pointed out your apparent life's mission to save us from the socialists, no matter the issue or implication.  And, as usual, you assumed the wrong spin on the data, saying that the Swedes participation in a list of sports was 'underwhelming'.  As anyone knows who follows, from the list you gave, the ones the Swedes actually pursue as nationwide popular sports, they excel quite well, perhaps even disproportionately so.  It took Brian the Swede to point out that the concept of equality (of opportunity and facility to participate in sports) whether that is socialistic or just plain in the national psyche to promote fairness and equality of opportunity, really is at the heart of the matter. 

One might conclude in the realm of sports achievment: exclusionary-private+cost/class barrier = bad.
Inclusionary, fair and equal access+ affordable and part of national policy trait to promote equality = good.... same with health care, which may actually be related to the health/sports nexis. 

And, I really do get the distinction between  fear and repression in Cuba, which is no where near the constitutional monarchy with liberal freedoms the Swedes enjoy.  I can't imagine why you'd try to pin that on me unless it is from the Rovian play book... 

nighty nite.

Dick,

Give me a freakin' break!  Go back to my original reply and find the word "socialism" anywhere.  I only provided two plausible factors which may help to explain Sweden's success in golf, and posed a third that may also have some implications.  You may wish to review the subsequent responses by others, but I don't see anything which refutes what I wrote.

You accuse me of "spuriously ascribing my statements as a hail to socialism".  Careful reading and consideration of other people's posts are not strongpoints of this site.  But Dick, certainly you must comprehend what you wrote.  If your statement above does not "hail to socialism as the reason for Sweden's achievement in sports" then maybe I need some remedial work in reading comprehension.

As to my bringing in Cuba into this mix following your "spurious" psychoanalysis of my motives- and I thought you were a public sector union leader and negotiator in your professional life, not a trained psychologist  - it just came to mind because this socialist utopia also takes great pride in its athletic prowess on the international stage (primarily in baseball and boxing) and those on the left use highly fictionalized accounts of its socialized healthcare system to chide those of us who believe in market-based solutions.  I am fairly sure that you have offered Cuba's "achievements" on this front in past discussions to berate those of us who believe that socialized health care would be disastrous for our country.

In any regard, I did not as yet receive my talking points from Mr. Rove to respond to the question: "The Scandinavian Secret: Why does Sweden churn out so many great golfers?".  Perhaps I can still catch part of Rush's program and gain some guidance.  Unfortunately, I have been procrastinating on completing my tax return (you are the psychologist here, do you suppose that this is the reason I've been posting so much lateley?).

Dick, it is a good thing I am very fond of you.  Certainly you must know that I am a strong believer in the Second Amendment, though I am much more dangerous on the golf course.  When we play again, you may wish to avoid standing immediately to my right.  Come to think of it, I can't imagine you ever doing that.

Brian Phillips,

Thanks for your informative post.  You say "but it keeps my wife as she is a communist by heart....".  If it is not too personal in nature, what did you mean by this?

BTW, if you added all your taxes and fees, what percentage of your gross income do these take?

Tiger Bernhardt,

Amazing how things never change.  Golf, women, and good times.  You bon-vivant!

While working in Marbella years ago, I learned that the Swedes take frequent trips to the Spanish Gold Coast.  One of the board members of the Spanish Golf Federation mentioned that a Swedish golf association had purchased a golf club and housing/hotel complex somewhere in southern Spain where it sent its promising players during the cold winter months.

Years earlier I picked up a game at Fiddlesticks, a nice Ron Garl course not far from Naples, FL, with the then president of what was the equivalent to the USGA in Sweden.  He and two buddies had come to a Golf Digest school for a week in the winter.  We had a great time and he invited me to play again the next day.  The guys were suffering from physical exhaustion (apparently the GD school was very grueling) and terrible sun burns, but they were a joy to play with.  Their description of their country (much more was mentioned about their women than their golf courses) and their way of living was highly complimentary.  I could see someone like you having a wonderful life there.  Coincidentally, I am fairly sure he was an attorney.  Of course, Sweden's gain would be our loss!     

Ian Andrew,

Do you think that the junior program in Canada, a more diverse society than Sweden, will achieve similar results?  Are there any discernable trends as yet?

I would like to see American clubs give much more emphasis to Junior golf, but given the difficulty that our public school system has with discipline and unruliness, I fear that it may be too much to ask.  Club managers and professionals have their hands full without needing to become babysitters.  Also, the fear of litigation and liability plus the need to keep paying members/customers happy does not seem to bode well for such (Junior golf) initiatives here. 

While a member of a private club in TX for many years, I took it upon myself to help out young golfers when I could.  Unfortunately, few were receptive.  Kids here seem to prefer enjoying their time with their buddies whether playing golf, playing computer games, or hanging out at the mall.  Golf with its slower pace, rules of conduct and courtesies, and shared use of the facilities with as many as 100+ others does not seem to be ideally suited to many of our young people.  I think the First Tee program is a move in the right direction, but if the future of the game is indeed dependent on a successful Junior program- the thesis behind the Swedish and Canadian models- I don't know how things will play out here.

[RJ_Daley]

Tiger B  (or could be said to Tiger W as well), I would fully support and would love to participate in the Swedish 'au pair' or nanny training program.  It seems their country has produced outstanding talent in that sport as well! 

[Jim Nugent]

Just think how great Sam Woods might turn out.  Mother -- Swedish.  Father -- greatest golfer ever.  Look out world. 

[Brian Phillips]

Lou,

Sorry it should have read:

"It is all about equality...which in the end is Socialism...which also means I get taxed to death but it keeps my wife happy as she is a communist by heart...."

The biggest thing that my wife has taught me since we got married in 1994 is 'empathy'.  She really thinks about the fellow man and so to her our high taxes are helping those less fortunate than us...and that is how she sees it.  I moan about 40% of my income disappearing and and about 50% of my profits being swallowed by the Norwegian tax laws but she reminds that it is going to better schooling for our kids...roads...etc...etc..she is a communist...

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