Is golf an elitist sport?

by Ben Glover

IT IS a common perception that the sport of golf is only played by wealthy people, and if it was to be the case that it is a sport ruled by a minority of higher class people, it could therefore be considered to be an ‘elitist sport’.

I would like to look at the statistics about the types of people who are golfers. According to www.StatisticBrain.com, ‘A golfer is defined as anyone having played an 18-hole round in the last 12-months’.

The website tells us that golf is predominantly played by older males with a high income or a lot of savings, supporting the idea that golf is an elitist sport. With only 5% of golfers being under the age of 30, it is obvious that golf isn’t being played by many young people, possibly because they don’t have a high enough income or savings.

It is a sport that, unlike football or rugby, requires more expensive equipment and more space to be able to play it. Rather than a five pound football and jumpers for goal-posts, with golf you need a set of clubs, balls, a bag and a membership to a golf club.

Golf has higher class image than most sports, with an air of sophistication and elegance all around it. From the way the sport is played by politely taking it in turns before setting off on a pleasant walk with your opponent, to the people that play it and the clothes they wear.

Now some people believe golf should be a sport you ‘aspire’ to play, as explained brilliantly by the controversial President of the United States, Donald Trump (Fortune, 2018):

‘It may be elitist, and perhaps that’s what golf needs. Let golf be elitist. When I say “aspire,” that’s a positive word. Let people work hard and aspire to someday be able to play golf. To afford to play it. They’re trying to teach golf to people who will never be able to really play it. They’re trying too hard. Because of the expense of playing, and the land needed, golf is never going to be basketball, where all you need is a court. All these great athletes, you know what they do when they retire? They do nothing but play golf. Basketball players, hockey players, football players, all they want to do is golf.’

The US President shares many ties with the sport, including an official partnership with the PGA. So he knows what he’s talking about, well, this time anyway.

By being an expensive sport, golf’s image is linked to wealth and success, and as a result a sport that people aspire to play.

There has to be things to aim for in life, and having a round of golf on a beautiful course in casual, brandish clothing under the blazing sun, is surely one.