Why Is Golf Becoming So Popular?

Golf, An “Old Man’s Game” That Is Increasingly Becoming Popular

T. M. Kennedy

NOW IF YOU’RE LIKE ME AND YOU’RE A GOLF ADDICT,  you would have noticed that the number of people playing golf has increased tremendously. Through the growth of social media and YouTube, golf has become ever so popular throughout the younger generations. But what are the reasons for this spike in numbers? 

I believe one of the biggest reasons why golf has become so popular is the impact of YouTube, with creators such as Good Good amassing over 1.42 million subscribers, with multiple videos attracting over 3 million viewers. Good Good, which attempts to make golf more enjoyable, showcases their good golf skills through exciting videos with challenges that bring viewers onto the golf course themselves to try this out. Good Good brings a mix of golfers out, with a variety of personalities on their channel that showcase the good, the exceptional and very bad parts of the golf game. YouTube videos regularly come out on the channel, and people in the group upload videos to their own channel, such as GM Golf, which has amassed 1 million subscribers, in which they showcase a range of trick shots that started a trend, with people trying to recreate similar videos. 

Good Good YouTube Channel 

Furthermore, the craze on YouTube golf has brought several professional golfers such as Bryson DeChambeau, Akshay Bhatia and the Bryan Bros Golf to showcase their day in the life of a professional golfer, and bring the normal golfer or viewer up and close to the action. Bryson has gained the most success due to his large media presence with quirky but interesting takes on golf. 

Bryson Dechambeau, LIV golf player, jumping in the air with excitement

Now, the second reason I believe golf has become so popular for younger people is that a lot of people have a lot of free time. They want to try out a new sport they have seen on social media. Golf is becoming more accessible, with new technology being introduced, where now, you do not even have to go to a golf course to play but can just play on a golf simulator. Now, if you live in New York City, there aren’t many golf courses nearby – so Five Iron Golf was created. Multiple simulators in the middle of NYC, which has brought more and more people to play golf. With golf being more accessible, 3.5 million people in Australia last year played golf on or off the course, with a 10% increase in golf club membership to 434,825 people in Australia in 2023, according to the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation. 

Five Iron Golf, New York City

So as we come to a conclusion, golf is not just an “old man’s game” anymore, with a newer, younger and more entertaining generation of golfers that are taking the world by storm. Until next time, keep golfing. 

Good Good collaboration with UK Youtuber Rick Shiels