Thanks to the NHL’s unfortunate lockout, more and more people seem to be tuning into golf fans and several sources are preditciting golf will pass the NHL and become the fourth most popular sport after football, baseball, and basketball. Just why is golf becoming so popular these days? People who play the game well are obviously going to give professional golf quite a bit of attention. However, between 70-90% of golfers will never break 100, so why do golfers love the game so much despite their bitter struggles?
Playing Career
The average career of an NFL running back is 5 years. A professional golfer, on the other hand, can play the game competitively well into his 60’s, leading to careers that can span 40 years. This is a huge bonus for the PGA since they can easily create fans for life. Just because a golfer gets old doesn’t mean that his career is done. Ask Champions Tour phenom Craig Stadler who has experienced a resurgence in his two years among the over-50 crowd.
Golfers aren’t just limited to watching their favorite players play into their golden years. Golf is a game of rhythm, tempo, and nerves which can truly be played all your life. Also, contrary to popular belief, it’s never too late to begin playing the game.
Live Events
Golf is the only sport where an admission ticket to an event guarantees fans front row seats all for the same price. No special connections are needed and there are no outrageous ticket prices. All golf fans need is the willingness to walk and they can stand eye to eye with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Getting right next to players on the golf course is a great experience, but it’s watching the pros play that makes a live event truly worthwhile. Television does little justice portraying the pros’ abilities to work the ball at will. Watching a pro golfer hit a fifty-yard fade around a dogleg or a gentle flop a shot fifty-feet in the air in person is really a fantastic experience and leaves most golfers are in awe of their incredible skills.
Although it may not be accessible to everyone, golf is also the only sport where amateurs can compete side-by-side with professionals during pro-am tournaments. Events like the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am allow amateurs to see exactly what it’s like to play a PGA Tour event. Wednesday pro-ams allow countless amateurs to tee it up with the biggest names in golf.
Talent Pool
After Tiger Woods burst onto the scene in the late 1990’s, he revolutionized the sport of golf. Golfers everywhere realized how important physical fitness, proper equipment, and practice can be on one’s game. Children everywhere are picking up golf clubs at earlier ages and grooving more efficient swings. The net result is greater talent and depth at every level of golf, from the PGA Tour, to municipal golf courses, to high school golf teams.
These days, the PGA Tour has never been better. Tiger is no longer the only dominant golfer now that Vijay, Ernie, Phil, and Retief are hitting their strides. Young stars like Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott are proving that you don’t have to be old to play great golf. While at the other extreme, Jay Haas and Colin Montgomerie contiune to show us that you’re only as young as you feel.
“Tiger” is no longer THE dominant player… when was this posted? phil quit, erine and vijay haven’t done jack,retief who? Anyway i’m trying to find out who’s swing was the pga logo mimicked after? Please respond if you know the truth. Thanks, Anderson.
Anderson, you’re crazy. First of all, Tiger is clearly the dominant player. Second, it’s “Ernie,” not “erine”. Third, the date is right there at the top: Mar 17, 2005.