Golf has an established, stereotypical image amongst non-golfers as being elitist and stuffy – for many not involved in the sport, golf has been seen as representative of old-fashioned attitudes and prejudice… It’s Caddyshack and men in Argyle sweaters making guffawing noises. Golf is a good scapegoat for those crying capitalist patriarchy. It isn’t true, of course, but the truth hasn’t stopped our sport being a fairly passive whipping boy for the more blinkered warriors for social justice.
In recent years, a huge amount of work has been done within the game to break the stereotype – to make golf more inclusive and appealing to people outside of the sport. Dress codes are largely a thing of the past, initiatives around youth and female participation and sustainability and accessibility have been high on the agendas of the governing bodies for decades now. Clubs are striving to be more family friendly, and tournaments try to create more of a party atmosphere to draw in non-golfers.
