How to Attract More Young People to Golf
There’s a growing concern that golf has failed to attract millennials (people born between the early-1980s and late 1990s). However, it is not just a millennial issue. It’s a far-reaching one, affecting many younger people, such as those who belong to the Gen Z population. The decline in golf uptake among younger generations can be attributed to several factors, including time commitment, cost, logistics, and perception. To get younger people to play golf, catering to their specific needs is important
Younger people favor mixed-gender sports. Considering that only two in every 10 golfers are females, it’s no surprise that a millennial would rather get involved in a mixed-gender activity like squash than hit the golf course. In addition, younger people prefer to play a game and share moments with their friend groups, which include both males and females.
More and more companies are shifting from formal dress codes to casual ones. One of the reasons is that younger people find formal dressing unappealing. Consider the same cohort stepping out on the weekend only to be told how they should dress to play.
Furthermore, young people may take formal attire as a gate-keeping tactic by the older folk to keep them away from the gold course. As a result, recognizing that young populations of today are about self-expression and letting them be may attract more of them onto the golf course. Golf courses can attract the younger generation by losing the dress code and allowing players to wear whatever they want.
Playing and listening to music is one of the many ways young people express themselves. That’s why it’s not enough to attract them to the golf course. To keep them there longer, golf courses could entertain or allow youngsters to play music on the course.
Time is one of the reasons many younger players are not playing golf. Young people find spending four to five hours golfing on the weekend laborious. Maybe the nine and 18-hole round tradition is not for younger people, at least not initially. If golf courses can be configured to incorporate one, two, or three-hole packages, youngsters may be encouraged just to participate, play their favorite stretch and be on their way.
Most people view golf as an expensive undertaking. This can be off-putting to beginners who fear they might not enjoy themselves. Golf courses may consider creating pocket-friendly beginner packages. For instance, they may offer free group lessons, golf clubs, or food or beverages.
There’s also the notion that cost is not a major deterrent for young people wanting to play golf. Some even argue that it’s not as much about the fee as it is about structuring it. Out there, young people are used to low-commitment subscription models like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Spotify. Asking them to pay an initiation fee may not be a good idea. Golf courses may explore monthly membership subscription options to see if it eliminates the barrier to entry and promote retention. It would also make golfing cool and inexpensive.
