The golfing world and its rise to popularity

In the not too distant past golf was considered a sport that was somewhat pigeon holed to certain sectors of society. The type of people that took an interest in the game or partook in playing recreationally were often from older generations, generally male and commonly from the upper classes of society. The sport lacked diversity, both in its spectators and in its participants, however the modern day has brought about much in the way of change for the sport, particularly in the type of people that took an interest in it.

So, what happened between then an now that has allowed for such a transformation of the market, well there isn't one clear answer for the question, rather a number of contributing factors, probably the most obvious of which is the developments that have taken place within society. Since 1918 when women were first allowed to vote in the UK we have seen society constantly moving towards ideals that push for equal rights, as a result an increasing number of people are now in a position to freely do as they wish, within reason. So these developments in society have led to new social norms and standards that has allowed the golfing world to extend its reach past the small and somewhat uniform market that it already had.

As well as the developments in social standards, it is also important to consider the financial factors that may have contributed to the sports rise in popularity. As I have already mentioned the sport has always had the association with middle-aged men from upper classes of society, and as with any stereotype, though it may be a generalisation there is always some truth behind it, and this one is no exception. So, why is it that middle-aged men from upper echelons of society were the first to turn to the sport? Well, the common ground that they share is most likely to be wealth, and, as any keen golfer will know the sport doesn't come cheap, and this has obvious implications for restricting the potential market.

Nowadays the sport is still considered quite expensive, however there are a number of ways in which you can avoid having to pay as much. For example many companies now offer golf club discounts and deals such as two for one golf vouchers. When you consider how much it can cost to get into a more prestigious golf club the savings can be quite substantial. So it seems that golf companies have caught on to the fact that they can widen their appeal by offering deals such as these.