Did you know there are now over 25 million people playing more than 500 million rounds of golf each year in the United States? When you compare the number of men, women and children who play golf to the U.S. population, you realize that 10 percent of your patients are probably golfers.
A generation ago, golf broke into the mainstream when the charismatic Arnold Palmer captured the attention of the American public. Today, Woods, Annika Sorenstam and the 14-year-old prodigy, Michelle Wie, lead the charge. Golf is now woven into the fabric of everyday business meetings, real estate development, tourism and travel. The golf equipment industry is, by far, the largest in sports, with $4 billion in annual sales. Over the past 20 years, golf has grown to roughly the size of the movie and music business put together. In short, golf is here to stay, and more people are playing golf every year.
Are You Positioned in the Marketplace?
Golf provides an unprecedented opportunity to grow your practice. Golfers are becoming injured in epidemic proportions. A review of the medical literature reveals that 50 percent of golfers suffer from back pain and other injuries related to swinging golf clubs for hours on end. On a professional level, 30 percent of the tour pros play injured each week.
The traditional medical model of rest and medication for relief of pain does not bode well for the injured golfer. Golfers are a fanatic bunch of enthusiasts who are determined to keep playing, despite how they feel. Golfers are looking for qualified specialists who understand golf and know how to help golfers feel better and play better.
The root causes of most golf injuries are poor flexibility and postural weakness. These issues are in the "wheelhouse" of chiropractic. However, before you can position yourself in the marketplace, you need to get the postgraduate training necessary to become a legitimate "golf doctor."
In 1984, the average driving distance for a golfer on the PGA Tour was 274 yards. Today, the average driving distance is 304 yards! To hit a golf ball 300 yards, your patient needs to generate 125 mph of club head speed. Your average patient has 90 mph of club head speed. Do you know how to help him or her improve? Do you know which muscles of the body need to be long and quick, and which muscles need to be short and strong? The PGA instructors at the golf courses in your community need to know that you know what you're doing, if they're going to refer injured clients to your office.
It has been my goal for chiropractic to lead the way and set the standards of care for any golfer seeking relief of pain, or any golfer who is well and looking for improved performance. Over the next 20 years, let's help chiropractic care become the treatment of choice for the golfers of the world.
Jeffry Blanchard, DC
Encinitas, California
DoctorForGolf.com
Dr. Jeff Blanchard is a practicing chiropractor who competes as a golf professional. He is the author of The PGA Professionals' Golf Injury Desk Reference (2007). For questions or comments regarding this article, contact Dr. Blanchard at 805-772-8298 or
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