SINCE the Covid-19 pandemic, the game of golf has seen an immense increase in popularity with over 48 million people playing the game.
With the Masters tournament two weeks ago achieving an average of 13.995 million people with a peak audience of over 20 million people; the most viewed Masters since 2013.
Over the past 17 years, the game of golf has seen a 41% increase in participation with social media outlets such as TikTok and Instagram attracting huge, younger audiences, alongside an increase in golf content creators on YouTube.
Seaford College groundsman and keen golfer Adam Wall said: “Social media has definitely helped the growth of the game.
“It’s made golf more appealing as it’s shown that people with high handicaps can still go out there and pick up a club and enjoy the game as much as it’s a very frustrating sport at times.”
Television ratings in recent years have shown a 35% increase in digital and social engagement for tours like the DP World Tour, further promoting and growing the game.
Hill Barn Golf Club member and single figure handicapper, Liam Kitchener said: “I think [Covid] had a significant impact on participation levels within the sport with golf being one of the few sports people could still play.
“Being a member at a golf course, I saw a big influx of new people who were either trying the game for the first time or mainly returning to the sport having not played for many years.”
With golf being such a social sport, it provided an opportunity for people during the lockdown to interact with other’s whilst also maintaining the social distancing rules and regulations.
“I think people used golf during lockdown as an excuse to meet other people just because they were allowed to,” said green keeper Ben Homewood.
“People were allowed to go outside and leave the house and spend time with one another, and so that obviously made quite a bit of difference to participation levels, and was probably a good reason for people to take up the sport.”
Participation in the game of golf is certainly looking like it won’t be decreasing any time soon with the sport becoming a game for everyone and one which is certainly here to stay.
