I am not sure exactly how many people play golf. I seem to recall somewhere that as many as fifty million do but that seems an awful lot of people to me. Whatever the number it is interesting trying to determine why golf is so popular.
In this article I am going to give a couple of reasons why I believe it is. Initially I was going to try and put these in some sort of order of priority but to be honest I think we all put a different value on why we enjoy the game so much.
Here are the reasons why I think golf is so popular:
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It can be played by all ages, both sexes and all shapes and sizes. Golf is unique in that it has a handicap system that levels the playing field. It is me and my handicap versus the other guy and his handicap. On this basis I can theoretically beat the best player in the world. Dream on!
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No two games are ever the same. Every time you go out to play it is a different course and different conditions. Variety is the spice of life.
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It is played in the open air on some of the best real estate in the world. To me there is nothing quite so beautiful as walking the fairways of a well manicured golf course. Can you imagine playing at Augusta or The Old Course at St. Andrews? An experience of a lifetime I would think.
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There are rules - very strict rules - but no umpires or referees and you are expected to be your own referee. Is this possibly the last of the true "gentleman's" games (ladies included of course)? Which of the world's top golfers are considered bad sports? None that I know of and this filters down all the way to club level. You will very seldom meet a not so nice person on the golf course.
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There is no such thing as a perfect round. It is the most challenging game I have played with a great round one day and an absolute disaster the next. This alone is one of the main reasons why golf is so popular - the continual drive to improve.
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The perfect golf swing, like the perfect round, is an elusive animal. Even Tiger Woods has changed his swing over the years - as many as three times I believe. It looks so easy yet so much can go wrong.
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Life long friends are made in golf. I know because I have been playing golf with my friends for many years and I wouldn't change that for anything. And the offshoot of this is the stories and golfing jokes that are told. Legends are created on golf courses.
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It is quite simply the best game in the world and if you aren't one of us it is time you started living!
I suppose I could go on and find a million other reasons as to why golf is so popular but I am sure I would just bore you so here is my suggestion: grab yourself a set of clubs (beg borrow or steal some) and get someone to take you out and have a hit around.
To understand why golf is so popular take some time to learn to play the game properly - and remember the etiquette (those are the unwritten rules) is just as important as the rules.
Enjoy the experience of making solid connection with a golf ball while walking around in the fresh air with good friends.
My bet is it won't be long before you too are hooked.
Then you will be able to answer when someone asks you "why is golf so popular?"
