Can Russian event help sport surpass Big Mac in popularity?
By Associated Press
Published August 14, 2003
MOSCOW - Golf came to Russia a year before McDonald's restaurants, and despite the head start, 9-irons and caddie cars haven't caught on as quickly as burgers and fries.
But with the European PGA Tour stopping in Russia - where about 3,000 play the sport - for the first time for the Russian Open this week, the local community hopes the sport's popularity will get a big boost.
"The word golf has come from being something that a lot of people had never heard of, to something which interests more and more people, even nongolfers," said Alexei Nikolov, general secretary of the Russian Golf Association.
Nikolov said golf is played mainly by businessmen who can afford membership. At $75 a round and annual fees near $2,800, it is not a pastime that the average Russian can easily enjoy.
According to Nikolov, the Russian Golf Association has ambitious plans to build 500 new golfing facilities around the country in the next 15 years. Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo have both designed courses to be built here.
