trends life, luxury & the pursuit of happiness GAME THEORY
Different Strokes
The popular outdoor sport is attracting new players By Elizabeth Owens-Schiele Q&A WITH ERIK MATUSZEWSKI EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, NATIONAL GOLF FOUNDATION
How is technology changing the game of golf, with more powerful clubs and balls?
Technology has had a very broad impact on the golf industry, one that certainly includes advances in club and golf ball technology but extends far beyond. On the consumer side, this includes club sensors and shot/stat-tracking, mobile devices and apps, social networks, digital media, and golf-related tech gadgets, including rangefinders and GPS devices. All are intended to improve the customer experience in a game that has more than 25 million participants of all ages in the U.S. Away from the golf course, new forms of technologically driven, off-course golf—from golf simulators to golf-entertainment venues like Topgolf—are only increasing engagement, interest and access to the traditional on-course game.
PHOTOGRAPH: REUTERS
As an $84 billion industry, how has golf evolved in recent years?
Sepp Straka won the 2022 Honda Classic held in February at the PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
As to evolution, there are any number of examples on course and off—from shorter golf offerings to more relaxed dress codes, music on course and golf entertainment. But there’s no question we continue to see a shift in the on-course participant pool. Here are some numbers that speak to some of that: • Total golf participation—on and off course— increased by 2% in 2021 to 37.5 million. This is a
July 2022 | Luckbox
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