What Pastimes Are Fading/Failing With Aging Boomers?

[Souschef]

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Originally Posted by brett Our new neighbours, who are avid golfers, tell me that two of the courses that they frequent have actually lost money in each of the past two years.

I just read that the golf courses that the city of Ventura , CA are losing money also

[Music Lover]

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Originally Posted by Souschef I just read that the golf courses that the city of Ventura , CA are losing money also

Many courses around here that used to be private or semi-private with membership waiting lists and initiation fees are now actively pursuing new members at reduced rates. A lot of them have also greatly reduced or dropped the initiation fee.

[aja8888]

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Originally Posted by Souschef I lost track of how many Heathkits I built over the years. They were a lot of fun.

Ditto! Besides all the stereo gear, I built some nice automotive test tools.

[Breedlove]

Anyone remember the toys you used to get in cereal . or if you sent so many box tops you would get a prize . . I remember getting a submarine , on the box it looked huge when I got it , it was about 4 inches long.

[aja8888]

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Originally Posted by Breedlove Anyone remember the toys you used to get in cereal . or if you sent so many box tops you would get a prize . . I remember getting a submarine , on the box it looked huge when I got it , it was about 4 inches long.

Good memory. I had a small plastic Nautilus sub you filled up with baking soda and it sunk in the bathtub, then the dissolving baking soda gas lifted it to the surface. I was about 8 years old then and played with that sub for hours.

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music Lover I mentioned golf earlier as have many others. Today I got a good look at the demographic at a local course. The siren went off part way through our round due to lightening and everyone had to leave the course until it was safe. We ended up in the restaurant with around 60 people. I'm 55 and my friend is 54. We think there were only 3 or 4 golfers younger than us, and at least 20 of them were well into their 70's. No one under 40 at all. Now, a part of that could be because it was a weekday, but the lack of young people taking up the game must be cause for concern to clubs trying to pay the bills.

I live in a golf Mecca and play at two different courses. The one closest to me (on Aboriginal land) has a very active Juniors program. Two years ago it hosted the Provincial Junior championship. The holes are relatively short, but challenging, making it accessible to amateur golfers without very powerful drives. It's very scenic, full of interesting wildlife and extremely well kept. Most years it is rated the top course in the area. It's a hive of activity. I'm sure the owners are making a nice profit.

It's called competitive advantage.

I'm very fortunate to live 4 minutes away!

http://www.twoeaglesgolf.com

[Koolau]

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Originally Posted by Music Lover Many courses around here that used to be private or semi-private with membership waiting lists and initiation fees are now actively pursuing new members at reduced rates. A lot of them have also greatly reduced or dropped the initiation fee.

Heh, heh, kinda sweet isn't it?

[Moemg]

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Originally Posted by aja8888 Good memory. I had a small plastic Nautilus sub you filled up with baking soda and it sunk in the bathtub, then the dissolving baking soda gas lifted it to the surface. I was about 8 years old then and played with that sub for hours.

I had one of those ! You probably also had a decoder ring .

[Koolau]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breedlove Anyone remember the toys you used to get in cereal . or if you sent so many box tops you would get a prize . . I remember getting a submarine , on the box it looked huge when I got it , it was about 4 inches long.

I saved box tops from Grapenuts and was able to get a small plastic boat that looked like a wooden Chris Craft. Tiny, but seemed kind of cool at the time.

DW and I both recall getting 1 square inch of Alaska - I wish I recalled what I did with the deed. Additionally, I got a small pouch of "pay dirt" from Alaska that supposedly contained gold, though I never panned it (nor found any gold.) No idea what happened to it either.

I suppose with today's toys, games, electronics, etc. such items would hold no interest for youngsters. YMMV

[Music Lover]

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Originally Posted by Koolau Heh, heh, kinda sweet isn't it?

Don't get me wrong...I like the discounted prices ($36 for 2 of us to play yesterday), but that's not sustainable.

[JoeWras]

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Originally Posted by Music Lover Don't get me wrong...I like the discounted prices ($36 for 2 of us to play yesterday), but that's not sustainable.

The prices rises of the 90s were no sustainable either. Pretty much killed my interest. Maybe it is time to get back into it.

[GravitySucks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 Good memory. I had a small plastic Nautilus sub you filled up with baking soda and it sunk in the bathtub, then the dissolving baking soda gas lifted it to the surface. I was about 8 years old then and played with that sub for hours.

I had it too. Fun toy.