This past week in Florida the 2016 HSBC Golf Business Forum took place, which saw golf industry executives, Tour officials, sponsors and decision-makers vowing to grasp the opportunities and new momentum created in the game during 2016 to increase the popularity of the sport worldwide.

According to reports, at the conclusion of the second and final day the overwhelming outlook reached by the delegates was one of optimism and excitement for what lies ahead in 2017 following what was described as watershed year in 2016.

Talk in recent times has of course been of golf's popularity waning somewhat. But the consensus from those in attendance at the Forum was that the sport has undergone a 'quiet revolution' characterised by greater international collaboration among the industry, the introduction of new formats, greater attention to youth development and greater focus on digital technologies.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said, “Anything that is golf related that young people can use to connect to the game is positive. It doesn’t matter what it is. The idea that young people aren’t interested in the game is just nonsense. Look at the growth in those trying the game for the first time. It can be anything from three-holes to Topgolf, the format doesn’t really matter."

Also optimistic was LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan who added, “There was a lot doom and gloom surrounding the game. But if you wanted to summarise where golf is now in 2016 in three words. ‘Global youth movement’. These three words are inarguable. It’s not just happening here, women are joining golf all over the world.

“The youth that are driving our sport is a movement and driving the way we make decisions about the way we do our jobs. That didn’t happen overnight. It’s the outcome of being open to change and doing the right things for many years already.”

Much of the reason for the positive outlook was down to the success and global impact of golf’s return to the Olympic family in Rio this year, with leaders believing even more can be made of the Olympic opportunity in 2020.

Anthony Scanlon, International Golf Federation Executive Director, said: “Golf at the Olympics was one of the great comeback stories of the year because the players embraced it. There is no other opportunity to showcase this sport to a global audience that the Olympics delivers for the game of golf. I know of no other initiative that causes hundreds of countries to invest in the future of the game of golf for both men and women. Only the Olympics can achieve this movement globally.”

All of which is very positive and one hopes is an indication of a genuine upswing in the industry's fortunes. However, for these grand ambitions to pay off the golf industry needs to make sure that the greenkeeping industry is continued to be highly valued and appropriately remunerated for the vital role they play in the sport's popularity.

Just recently on Twitter I've seen several disgruntled, now ex-greenkeepers, talk of quitting the industry because of low pay and high stress. These Tweets have gained some real traction amongst the greenkeeping community and have caused some quite justifiable anger and dismay.

They should be cause of some genuine embarassment and reflection for the industry.

It's no good the global heads of the game slapping themselves on the back because they have raised the profile of the sport, if guys who are key to this success are being forced to quit due to their highly skilled professionalism not being properly appreciated.