Like Faldo, Norman believes tournament golf should continue to be played on full-length courses over 72 holes, but proclaimed that, to grow the game, “we have to make adjustments”.
He said golf was seen as being boring and stuffy by many young people because authorities hadn’t recognised what would attract them to – and keep them in – the sport.
One of the most compelling statistics reinforcing the need to attract young players is that only 17 percent of almost 26 million golfers in the United States are aged under 40 and barely 10pc are in their 20s.
Golf participation in most developed countries is falling – the US has lost more than four million golfers, down from 30 million to 25.7m, in the past 15 years.
The founder and ex-CEO of Adams Golf, Barney Adams, says participation could drop by up 60 per cent in the next 30 years unless courses are made easier and more fun.
He says the best tour pros, on average, hit 8-irons into the green on par-4 holes. He argues courses should be set up to give players similar approach shots. Instead of making courses longer, he says 6,000 to 6,400 yards is more realistic.
"You have people wanting to change the equipment, change the rules. Why? Why not just make it more playable?"
In June, European and US tour pro, Lee Westwood, said changes were needed to encourage young players and especially women to take up golf.
He proposed a shorter format, making golf cheaper and more accessible and, possibly, enlarging the hole.
“Maybe, the hole maybe needs to be bigger, easier – it’s a tough game that can become painful at times, so it needs to be made fun.”
Westwood also said the stigma that “golf is an old man’s game and is for ‘toffs’ ” needed to be removed.
“There needs to be more municipal courses. Golf also needs to be quicker, with a shorter format – five hours on a Saturday or Sunday is too long to be out of the house. It needs a two-hour format,” he said.
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