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Golf participation up among youths We see a mixed picture for the golf industry. The phenomenal success of Tiger Woods has attracted large audiences, and youth participation in the sport appears to have risen sharply between 1990 and 1999. The NSGA estimates that in 1999, the number of seven- to 17-year-old golf participants was more than 60% above 1990's level. Among 15 sports categories reported by the NSGA, this rate of growth was exceeded only by inline skating (up more than 500%) and snowboarding (up more than 130%). Sports in which the estimated number of youths participating declined between 1990-99 include volleyball (down more than 40%) and tennis (down about 34%). Among all groups age seven and older, the NSGA reports that the number of golf participants increased 9.8% between 1994 and 1999. However, the estimated number for 1999 (27.0 million) was 1.8% below that of the prior year. The cost of playing golf, including equipment, and the shortage of public-access courses are likely limiting overall participation. In March 2000, the National Golf Foundation (NGF) said that following two years of declines, the golf industry was "poised for a rebound" in 2000, but was not likely to reach 1996-97 levels. The NG