The Future of Golf: 8 Trends and Innovations

The Future of Golf: 8 Trends and Innovations

By Bradley Turner, Keiser University College of Golf Director of Online Golf Instruction – MBA, PGA

The future of golf is hard to predict, with so many unexpected changes over the past few years. The pandemic has exposed the game to so many that may not have had the opportunity to play golf. Attraction to golf has been at an all-time high, with more than 12 million people interested in playing the game but have yet to try it out. With about 25 million golfers in America, adding another 12 million would create big problems for golf, all good problems! LIV Golf impacted the game in 2022, but now LIV may become something of the past with the recent merger of professional golf tours. This article will highlight eight evidence-based trends and innovations that will influence the future of golf.

1. More Junior Golfers Will Increase Golf Participation

The National Golf Foundation (NGF) is the leading authority on the business of golf. The NGF publishes annual reports on the state of the game as well as the demographics of golf participants. In their most recent report, the NGF found that junior golf participation has increased by 36% over the last three years. This three-year growth of almost 1,000,000 junior golfers is evidence that the future of golf participation will continue to grow, which excites the entire golf industry.

2. More Female Golfers

The increase in female golfers continues to be a bright spot for the future of golf. The United States Golf Association (USGA) tracks the number of participants that attempt to qualify for the various national championships conducted by the association. Take a look at the positive growth in female golfers participating in USGA Championships over the past 20 years:

For many years women were discouraged from playing this great game. The evidence is clear when analyzing the Senior Women’s Amateur Championship entries. The older generation of women were not exposed to golf at a young age. The old traditional golf culture is changing, and we are now seeing the trend of younger girls and women playing the game. As the father of two athletic young adult women, it is humorous to see their Instagram posts when they are at a TopGolf with their male friends. I do not know why the boys are always surprised when the girls show them how it is done. Give a girl a chance in golf, and she can learn to play. It is funny how those ostracized from playing the sport many years ago are now the key lynchpin for the future of golf.

3. Professional Golf Will Expand Internationally

The future of golf is already here. This is especially true of the LPGA Tour, with a diverse group of professionals worldwide. Very soon, there will be competitions on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour with men and women competing against each other, which is already happening in Europe. The Scandinavian Mixed Championship features the top 72 ranked players on the DP World Tour and the top 72 ranked players on the Ladies European Tour. Total yardage is adjusted so power off the tee is mitigated. We may see a new team event emerge where the best women and men from the United States play against Europe’s best and then add an international team. This three-team event could become one of the highlight events on the golf calendar.

4. Technology and Innovation

As an avid golfer, you likely own a range finder that will provide accurate distances to the flagstick. You also have access to technology that will give you the distances you hit the golf ball while playing the golf course, phone apps that track your golf statistics, green reading apps that help you read the greens better, and more innovative training aids than you can keep in your garage. Technology and innovation appear to have no end in sight as golfers consume these products to improve their golf experience. When artificial intelligence starts playing golf for you, we are in trouble!

5. Managing the Time Crunch

One of the barriers to golf participation is the time it takes to play. According to the NGF, the average round of golf takes about four hours and thirty minutes. But it takes more than that. If you add 30 minutes to check in and warm up, another 30 minutes for a post-round beverage, and then the 15-minute commute to the golf course each way, you are at 6 hours to play golf. A good solution for many golfers is to play nine holes instead of 18 holes. This will reduce your time commitment to playing a typical round of golf yet get you out on the links to unplug from a day in the office. A switch to nine holes of golf is a wonderful way to spend quality time with friends and loved ones, a practice we will see more in the future of golf.

6. The Influence of Nutrition and Fitness

Tiger Woods was and continues to be a trendsetter in golf. One of the best ways to stay mentally and physically healthy as we age is to exercise. Before Tiger, the typical golfer rarely went to the gym and consumed large quantities of beer while riding in a golf cart. If you want to play golf well into your retirement years, it is essential that you eat a healthy diet and commit to daily exercise. Golf is the perfect activity to get you fit so you can enjoy the game in the future. Start by first walking the front nine holes and then riding the back nine. Before you know it, you will be easily walking your entire round, just like golf was meant to be played. Who knew the future of golf could be just like the past?

7. Increased Attention on Golf’s Environmental Impact

Environmental stewardship in the golf industry is accepting the responsibility for maintaining environmental quality for the community in which the golf course operates. Golf courses consume mass quantities of water to keep the turf healthy and in good playing condition. They also use fertilizers and pesticides to aid in turfgrass growth. The days of wall-to-wall green grass on golf courses may become a thing of the past. As water usage in America continues to be an issue, golf courses of the future will focus on watering green complexes and tee boxes, forgoing large amounts of water on fairways and roughs. Although the fairways will become firm and discolored, the upside of brown fairways is that the average golfer will hit longer drives and shorter irons into the greens. That is a good trade-off in my mind.

8. Changes in Golf Fashion

Fashion is in a constant state of change, and golf fashion is no different. Golf attire has changed dramatically from the days of Bobby Jones competing in a dress shirt and tie to the cotton pleated khaki pants that Ben Hogan sported to the fitted collarless golf shirt that Tiger Woods made popular. Rest assured, what you will be wearing in the future is something that golf superstars are wearing later this year. If you think your closet is complete with enough golf shirts to last a lifetime, remember that fashion changes, and you will find a spot for that new innovative golf shirt that promises to allow you to look great and hit the ball farther than ever!

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Want more tips? If you want to take your game to the next level, contact our team at Keiser University’s College of Golf & Sport Management today. With our dedication and experience, together, we can elevate your game to new heights. Give us a call today at 888-355-4465.