Getting started, or re-started, in golf is an issue at the forefront for the sport in 2004.

At a time when the industry was counting on the game growing, the number of rounds played has decreased in the last two years.

One answer the industry has come up with is playgolfamerica.com, a Web site geared to providing potential players one-stop shopping in learning about special programs to get them involved or improve their golf games.

The site includes a search engine that allows users to sort by location golf clinics and events geared toward beginning players or occasional players.

A search within a 20-mile radius of downtown Cincinnati returned events at 12 courses within the next month, as well as another 13 facilities offering ongoing programs.

Playgolfamerica.com hopes to build participation in the game by tapping a pool of 17 million adults who have expressed an interest in playing golf and another 14 million adult golfers who play between only one and seven times a year.

Industry research identifies women as the demographic group that has the highest potential for future growth. Minorities' interest in the game also has grown substantially in the past seven years. Grow-the-game programs being offered target segments of the population, including families, couples, women and business professionals.

The campaign is led by the PGA of America and includes the USGA, the PGA Tour, the National Golf Course Owners Association, and the LPGA, among other groups.