For all the fun things about golf - the challenge, the camaraderie, the exercise - there are enough things hurting the game, and threatening its future.

Slow play. Not as many people playing golf as there were a few years ago. Costs too much to play, and takes too long - people don't have six hours to spend on a golf course anymore.

"From a public side of it, other than Coeur d'Alene Public, I don't know of one golf course that is at capacity," said Darrell Hull, course manager at Prairie Falls Golf Club in Post Falls. "The numbers of golfers are dwindling, and I think we as golf course operators and golf professionals and golf companies aren't helping much. Golf is real expensive to get into. A good set of golf clubs ... $500 or $400 for the driver, couple hundred dollars for each fairway wood, 6, 7, 8 hundred for the irons, $100 for the putter, golf bags $150, and pretty soon you're looking at $1,500 to $1,700 for golf clubs - just to get started. Now I'll go spend another couple hundred dollars in lessons ... "

CHANCES ARE, most of us have done it.

You make a weekend tee time for your foresome early in the week. But something comes up before the weekend - or maybe you changed your mind and decided to play somewhere else. So you don't show up. Doesn't seem like a big deal to you - but it does to the course, especially when all its prime tee times during a weekend day are booked, and it has to tell other callers it's full. But a group that doesn't show up costs potential income to the course.

I've even heard of a course trying to track down its no-shows and get them to pay for not showing up.

"The Coeur d'Alene Golf Club's rounds are up, however, the biggest issue in golf in North Idaho is no-shows," said David Hobson, general manager at the Coeur d'Alene Golf Club. "Be respectful to the golf course and call and cancel your tee time so the course can sell them."

Not all is potential gloom and doom.

"In the resort golf business, we have seen a slight increase in play over the past two golf seasons now, indicating destination golf travel is trending back up in the right direction," said Andy Mackimmie, head professional at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course. "As far as the growth in the game of golf in general is concerned, the PGA of America has initiated several programs to stimulate a recent decline in golf rounds nationally by promoting the game better to juniors and families."

July was family golf month. Other programs suggested "take your daughter to the golf course," kids playing free, etc. Information: PlayGolfAmerica.com

"Pace of play is extremely important and makes the game more enjoyable for everyone, but growing the game continues to be the main concern and challenge the golf industry faces," said Tony Cuchessi, head pro at Circling Raven Golf Club in Worley. "The PGA of America continues to develop programs to promote and generate new golfers and bring back previous ones too."

LET'S HOPE at least some of these programs work. Because the alternative isn't appealing.

"So how do we speed up the play?" Hull asks. "Encourage nine-hole play. Encourage six-hole play. We have to do something different. We have to think outside the box. And what it is, we're always searching for what it is. But if we don't encourage juniors, and we don't encourage people to start learning golf, there won't be any golfers before long."

Hobson has a suggestion.

"I would like to remind golfers of all ages that you are never to old or young to pick up a club," he said. "Playing golf is not just a rich person's sport. Come out and try hitting on the range; who knows, you might like it."

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.