Why are so many people playing golf online this year?
The fact that people can play safely, get outdoors, social distance, etc. is certainly positive. Although retail has experienced an uphill battle this year, we've seen tremendous demand in our online channels," Adidas Golf President Jeff Lienhart told the NGF.
What's happening to the golf industry?
Equipment sales also surge. The industry hit an all time high of $388.6 million in sales in July, according to Golf Datatech. "It's amazing to see the growth the sport has experienced -- even in the face of a global pandemic. The fact that people can play safely, get outdoors, social distance, etc. is certainly positive.
Is the sport of golf making a comeback?
Thanks to social distancing, the sport of golf has seen a resurgence, too. At the beginning of 2020, golf courses were seeing business as usual. There was no big nationwide increase in the number of rounds of golf played, according to data from Golf DataTech.
What is the most-viewed golf event on TV?
Content related to the event trended on Twitter all day as people bonded over a moment of familiarity in an increasingly unfamiliar and tragic age. The numbers just drove home the win. All in all, "The Match" brought in an average of 5.8 million TV viewers -- the most-viewed golf event ever.
Rain, fire, floods and ice
The situation in Australia is similar: Lynwood Country Club, northwest of Sydney, was flooded in 2020 and again earlier this year. At one stage, parts of the course were over 26 feet under water, while up the New South Wales coastline, Nambucca Heads received 42.5 inches of rainfall in just eight days.
Solar panels and robotic mowers
At the COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow, the North Berwick-based environmentalist GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf showed a virtual audience how golf is learning to be a champion among sporting bodies for a greener planet.
Why is golf ailing?
Here are three key reasons why golf is ailing: 1. The "Tiger" void: Golf's super-celebrity Tiger Woods has fallen out of favor with fans and the public, and -- with apologies to Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy -- no new golfing legend has yet filled the void.
Does Rory McIlroy have the star power Woods has?
Golf enthusiasts have high hopes for McIlroy, a three-time major champion, but he doesn't yet have the star power Woods had. "Sport thrives on classic rivalries and golf needs one or two more players to challenge with McIlroy on a regular basis," said Currie. 2.
Is golf outdated?
Golf is outdated: Before the recession, golf was a critical part of business networking. But times have changed for the LinkedIn generation. "For the post-recession world, the game comes with uncomfortable connotations of old boy networks," said Jonathan Gabay, a U.K.-based brand psychologist.
