Has recession affected the golf industry?
Since 2009, global recession has affected almost every person in this world and in the age of capitalism, it is tough for people to earn money now. Jobs have been slashed, inflation is sky high and everybody is just busy in earning for themselves and their
families.
In a situation like this, it is extremely difficult for anybody to make ends meet. Everybody is busy working and there is no space and time now to play any sort of sport.
Golf is one of the most played sports in America and since the recession, the numbers of players are decreasing day by day. This is mainly because of the expenses that are needed to play golf.
Golf is one of the most highly paid games but at the same time, it is the most expensive as well. Forget about the golf kit, even the membership rates at a reasonable club are sky high.
People devote their extra time in earning extra rather than playing golf because the sport itself is very time consuming and expensive.
The golf kits, apparel and the course fee is all too much for a common man to afford in such times. This now leaves the game of golf in the hands of the rich.
As a result of this, memberships at the golf clubs have started to dwindle. People are either not taking up memberships, or a few of them are withdrawing because they simply cannot afford such high costs.
Golf industry, in general, has seen decline since the Wall Street crash in 2009 and there is no point in sight that we can say that things may improve.
In the developing world, golf is only popular among the elites and with such economic crises, a commoner cannot even think of playing golf.
Forget the third world, even in Europe and America, people are working overtime to help feed their stomachs. So it gets extremely tough and difficult for them to play golf.
In USA, over a thousand golf courses have shut down, simply because there are not enough players and clubs cannot generate enough revenues to manage the course.
The problem is that golf has been an elite game in the world and the sport is not affordable anymore. The industry cannot come below a certain level to increase the number of players.
Meanwhile, people do not have enough resources and time to play such an expensive sport. Until and unless things do not improve globally, we will continue to see a decline in the industry.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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