A new survey has revealed that 88% of golfers think the sport is too expensive.
The research was in no doubt that enthusiasm for the game is high – other responses to the Q&A reveal that it is entertainingly high – but so are concerns about the cost of the game.
The survey was conducted by Golfbidder who asked customers about their golf habits and their attitudes to the sport.
From the responses the survey discovered that 78% said they play an average of one or two rounds of golf per week but when asked how often they would like to play, 70% claimed three to five per week would be their preference and a further 12% wanted to be out on the course playing six or seven days a week.
For all this passion, however, there were real concerns that the prices are forcing too many out of the sport – or have the potential to do so.
No less than 88% of respondents consider that golf is too expensive.
Just over half (53%) said that they have been, or are on the brink of becoming, forced away from the course.
And a touch over two-thirds of those surveyed (67%) admitted that they would consider ending their golf membership or cutting down on golf trips in order to save money.
Beyond those bad vibes the survey did discover plenty of good news.
Golf seems to be instantly addictive, for example, with 67% of respondents saying that they caught the golf bug within a month of first playing – and half of those within a week.
Then it became really fun.
Preferred lies
No less than 34% of respondents admitted to having lied about their whereabouts in order to play a round of golf and more than half (52%) admitted that playing golf has led to them missing, or being late on purpose, for a family engagement.
A similar number (54%) said that a golf holiday is their favorite type of vacation and exactly half of those surveyed admitted that they would prefer a golf holiday to a non-golf or family holiday.
Golfbidder is Europe’s largest platform for buying, selling and trading used golf clubs and Business Development Manager Thomas Tanner said: “It’s clear that golfers are particularly passionate about the sport they play, with the overwhelming majority keen to get out on their local course at least 3-5 days a week – and in some cases, every day.
“Catching the bug is real, with two thirds hooked to the sport within a month and some even prepared to miss family occasions to keep up their hobby.
“Having said that, we’ve found an underlying concern that the sport is becoming too expensive to maintain and it’s a shame that so many respondents wouldn’t rule out canceling their golf membership or cutting down on golf trips when they have such passion for the sport.”
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