IMO golf has an image problem and it’s the biggest thing keeping new players from the game. Golf has a reputation as being a sport for rich, snobby, old white men and that turns a lot of people off the sport. Even though, in my experience, 99% of the time this stereotype just isn’t true, I have to say that golf is not completely undeserving of such labels either. There are still incidents involving golf clubs that just make me shake my head - Ewan Porter and his sock incident (getting refused entry for wearing black socks) being perhaps the most recent example. Moreover, I found all the “their club their rules” responses to be pretty disheartening as even if they are technically correct, I feel they just miss the point. Incidents like this really give golf a bad name and they seem to happen far too often. Thoughts?
I think it’s been changing for a while, really since the Tiger heydays and the rare incidents we see these days are the lasts gasps of the previous generation of the game. It’s a constant evolution as 50 years ago, today’s “traditionalists” were in even more restrictive/conservative environments that they pushed past because of guys like Arnold Palmer. Makes me wonder what we’ll have left to be offended by in another 30+ years.
I think a lot of places are really trying to get better about this. The unfortunate thing is it’s not the places like my club that could care less about my tattoos or my Tyrell Hatton hoodie that get the attention. It’s places like Squires and Pine Valley that get the press.
Most private clubs in my area have different and more affordable membership options for younger people and families because they’re trying to bring in that demographic to make it less stuffy.
Even the guys on Tour are trying to shake the old stereotypes. Rickie has visible tattoos. Flat bill hats. Guys wearing Jordans on the course. Erik Van Rooyen dressing like a suburban housewife leaving hot yoga.
There will always be the 1% of the 1% that WANT everyone to know they’ll never get there, but I think the game of golf as a whole is really trying to do better and make it feel more accepting and accessible.
Golf will have a hard time shaking this image. It is quite expensive and takes a long time to play. The masses will never be able to afford it in time or money in large numbers.
nice one - I’m impressed that guy. He takes a lot of flak for those pants but it doesn’t seem to bother him one bit
You gotta commit to that look before you show up on game day and he has fully committed. I respect it.
The amount of offense people take to things is absurd.
how about a Carl Spackelr image ?