Of the many sports on offer around the world, golf is often seen as a luxury sport. It can also be seen as a ‘rich man’s sport’ but is this really the case now?
Why it is a luxury sport
Yes, it is true that golf is a luxury sport. You can spend a lot of money buying golfing clothes, shoes, clubs and other accessories. You can be up to date with the latest trends and change your golfing wardrobe on a seasonal or yearly basis. All of this makes it a luxury sport because not everyone can afford these items.
Yet at the same time, it can be one that is easy to access. There are golf courses around the country and many offer deals where you can try the game without having to sign up for a membership. You can ‘pay as you play’ to try out some of the features and see if golf is the one for you. So while it may be a luxury, it is also a sport that is increasingly accessible for anyone.
Enjoyable exercise
One of the reasons that golf is seen as a rich man’s game is that people in high powered jobs tend to be seen playing this. Sure, part of it is the prestige – it sounds great saying you are going out for a round with the head of this company or the president of this multi-national. But it is also having practical benefits that are especially relevant for people in high-power, high-pressure jobs.
For starters, it is an enjoyable exercise. Unless you are at the highest level, golf is one of the least physically demanding sports. You don’t need to be super fit to enjoy it, there’s no running around or jumping about. This makes it an ideal sport for less physically fit people who still want to get some exercise – and those high powered executives are just the perfect example of this.
Improve and be competitive
Golf also allows you to improve if you work at it, even if you aren’t super fit. Few sports can see people who aren’t peak physical specimens master the game in the way that golf can. And that improvement helps to bring a bit of competition to your play, a healthy sense of wanting to beat your partners.
Golf is a game to master – you need to learn all the technicalities of the game, the fine points of how to hit that little ball to get it where you want it. Yes, there is some skill involved but it is a skill that most players learn over time. And while you can enjoy some friendly competition with your friends, you are essentially playing against yourself. Your ability, your skill and your mastery of the course. Great for a bit of self-development!
Luxury but not exclusive
It is true that golf is a luxury game, especially if you want to go for high-quality equipment and clothing. But it is no longer an exclusive game that is only played by the rich. Just look at the backgrounds of some of the world’s top players (and get the look here) – they are from very diverse backgrounds, different parts of the world and different educational paths. They all share a love of the game that we can all join in with, a luxury we can all share.
Carol
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