A recent article in the New York Times carried the alarmingheadline that “More Americans Are Giving Up Golf,” mainly becausepeople just don't have the time anymore to lollygag around thecourse when there is real WORK to be done–most often over the Web.But what about the insurance industry, which historically hasconducted so much business with clubs in their hands? Is this trendnot alarming?

(To read the full New York Times story, click here.)

The numbers are stark. According to the article:

–The total number of people who play golf has declined orremained flat each year since 2000, dropping to about 26 millionfrom 30 million.

–Those who play 25 times a year or more fell to 4.6 million in2005 from 6.9 million in 2000, a loss of about a third.

–Core players–those who golf eight or more times a year–havefallen to 15 million in 2006 from 17.7 million in 2000.

What's the problem? Time. (Who has a few hours to get away fromit all anymore?) Money. (Companies are tightening up on expenseaccounts, and fewer individuals are able to afford the hefty clubmembership fees and equipment costs out of their own pockets.)Family. (It used to be that a guy would spend a weekend on the golfcourse, but today he's is more likely to be involved with his kids'activities–not a bad development, by the way.)

In any case, insurance has always included golf as a coreelement in its sales culture. At many industry conferences, golftournaments remain a major feature.

But even with Crackberries and cell phones to keep people intouch no matter where they are, most people are having a harder andharder time justifying time away from their desks to play even nineholes. (I understand that many golf facilities ban the use ofdistracting mobile devices on the course, and more power tothem–although cutting off the umbilical cord of business folk couldbe contributing to the decline in the number of players. Takingaway a cell phone or PDA from a techie is like ripping a pacifierout of the mouth of a hungry baby!)

In any case, this development is really too bad. Frankly, I amno fan of the game. I've never even played–outside of the sillyminiature version. (Tiger Woods has nothing to worry about when itcomes to my putting, in any case).

Yet I lament the loss of leisure in our everyday lives–not justin off-hours, but on the job as well. Each advance intechnology–note this blog–presents tremendous opportunities, butalso piles more work on everyone, and ties each of us more and moretightly to our computers. Each new mobile device is another vitallink to the world–and another step towards techno-tyranny! (That'sone reason why I still do not have a PDA or I-Phone. Just because Ican be in touch 24/7 doesn't mean I want to be.)

I also admit to being no fan of computer games, and the moresophisticated they get–what with avatars and second-lives and whathave you, along with “social media” such as the Facebook/MySpacecrowd–people in general, and kids in particular, are more and moreconnected, wired and isolated.

By contrast, a leisurely stroll on a beautiful green is ahealthy way to mix business and pleasure, much to the benefit ofall involved.

To lose that opportunity would be a shame. In the long run,passing on any real-life social activity to spend more time on yourlaptop will end up harming our mental and physical health, andmight even limit productivity as more and more people burn out fromtechno-overload.

What do you folks think???