Golf is A fun relaxing sport that usually we associate with an upper class lifestyle and the rich. Why do lots of wealthy people play golf, especially when there are so many sports to choose?
What makes golf the go to sport for the rich and what gave it the reputation that we associate with the wealthy? Read on to find out!
Why Do Rich People Play Golf?
1. It’s A Social Activity
Golfing is a social activity which means that people can come and hang around with their friends and spend time together while doing something fun.
Most people are busy with work and their lives so any chance to meet up and catch up is greatly appreciated.
Golf is a fantastic way to spend time with friends, and if you’re wealthy you may not have much time otherwise when your weekdays are spent working at your job.
When weekends are also spent with family, Golf time might be a busy person’s best avenue to socialize.
2. It Isn’t Physically Strenuous
A lot of wealthy people are older in age, therefore it would be a little unrealistic to meet up on a basketball court or play football.
Golf on the other hand is an extremely light sport that doesn’t require very much physical skill or conditioning.
When you play golf all you need to do is have a good swing, if you aren’t as fit as you used to be then golf is still a great exercise and activity.
3. Golf Courses Are Nice
Golf courses themselves are extremely scenic and beautiful. They are nice places where people like to come and hang out which is a big reason why it attracts the wealthy.
Hanging around a nice surrounding and taking in the sites is a big reason why a lot of people gravitate to golf as their sport of choice.
This is especially true if they are wealthy enough to live in very nice areas. It’s probably a good bet that if an area has upper class homes, it’ll also have a nice golf course.
4. It Takes Time
Golfing is an activity that takes a couple of hours to play. Wealthy people typically like to spend their off time away from stress, and an activity like golf lets you get away.
While golf may not be the best for playing day to day in a busy schedule, most of the time when people have free weekends they love to hit up the course to let the day go by.
When the days get stressful, a sport like golf is a great way to unwind. Most people relish every second the sport offers them.
5. Courses Are Everywhere
Another reason golf is so widely accepted amongst wealthy people is that courses are widely available. No matter what city you’re in, you’re sure to find a nice golf course.
Football fields are typically for sports teams, while soccer fields usually are reserved for children in schools. This isn’t as accessible for most people.
On the other hand, almost anyone can go to a golf course, sign up, and be ready to play. There are also businesses that provide golf courses with bars, food, and equipment.
6. It’s Relaxing
Golf is stress-free. It is a great way for people to unwind after a busy week. Wealthy people usually need this kind of relief because they work so hard, and golf is perfect
You wont get tackled or have to run around in a field. Golf is a sport that doesn’t require you to put in a lot of work, you don’t have to compete with anybody except yourself.
You can play at your own pace. This is why golf is an extremely appealing hobby for people looking to just relax.
7. You Can Eat/Drink
Unlike other sports, golf lets you eat and even drink whatever you want while you play. Anything from a quick hot dog or a luxurious glass of wine shared with friends.
Golf is a self paced game so you can take a rest for a snack break or a trip to the restroom whenever you feel like, which you can’t do in the middle of a heated sport.
8. Golf Equipment Can Be Expensive
Another reason golf is mostly associated with wealthy folk is that the wealthier people are typically the ones who can afford to play.
Golf requires equipment which can rack up in price, from golf clubs to balls. If you’re playing in a larger space you might need to rent a caddy or even a whole golf cart.
While you could certainly get by with a cheap set of equipment, all these can give golf a high barrier of entry which for rich people is not a problem.
There are a lot of golf products that cater to a premium price point because of golf’s luxury status. All those pieces of equipment can rack up in price quickly.
9. Other Rich People Play It
Networking is a big reason golf is popular among the rich crowd. The simple fact is, people gravitate towards golf because their friends are already playing it.
Golf isn’t a team sport, but it can be greatly enriched with other people around, regardless if you’re competing or just playing for fun.
If you’re rich, and your rich friends are playing golf, you would want to play with them instead of trying to find a soccer team to join.
Golf can also provide great networking opportunities because of the community that plays.
10. It Isn’t So Competitive
Another reason golf is popular is because it is more laid back and not as competitive as other sports.
Obviously it can get competitive with tournaments and other players but for a majority of the time, people can play golf at their own pace with just themselves or a small group.
There are several methods to compete in golf and ways to compare yourself to the competition for those who do prefer a more competitive choice.
Golf is an excellent sport for both professional and recreational players.
11. It Offers Opportunities To Improve
Golf lets you measure yourself against yourself. Meaning that no matter when you start, you can improve and see just how much you have improved by.
Wealthy and rich people might not get into the hobby until their later years, but with golf they can still improve their form in a relatively short amount of time.
Golf is really motivating because you’re essentially competing against yourself. After all, breaking your best records in any area may be incredibly exciting.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why golf is so boring, why golf clubs are so expensive, and why soccer is so boring.
Concluding Thoughts
So why do so many wealthy individuals participate in golf, the preferred activity of the elite, to the extent that it has earned it the distinction of being associated with the wealthy?
In the end, we can see that there isn’t just one factor that makes golf the preferred sport of the wealthy;
Rather, there are a multitude of aspects that work in harmony to make golf the sport we identify with the affluent and upper class.
If you want to feel rich as well as meet and form a community with wealthy individuals, maybe you should give golf a try. You’ll be rich in fun.