For those of us who love golf, it is easy for us to understand why. For those that have not yet fallen in love with the game, let me point out a few things to help you on your journey to loving like millions of others.
It’s a game for the whole family and your entire life. Most sports we only play as youngsters, but golf is a sport you continue to fall in love with and you can share with your whole family. In 2023 "off-course” players exceeded on-course players for the second year in a row. TopGolf, indoor simulators, putt-putt golf facilities that are state of the art and Top Tracer driving ranges are just a few options for the off-course player to fall in love with the game. Family members can use these off-course options to get their nerves in check, learn the game, and then take their talents and passion to the links.
The professional tours have so many young, talented and engaging players to support and get behind.Take for example Rose Zang, this 20 year-old won the grand slam of women’s amateur golf: the U.S. Women’s amateur, the U.S. Girls’ Junior, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the NCAA individual title twice. Then she turned professional and won the LPGA Tour in her debut. What a great example for young women everywhere.
Then on the Men’s tour you have players like U.S. Open Champions Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, 7-time PGA Tour winner Xander Schauffele, 2-time major winner Jon Rahm, and the number one player in the world and Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler who are all under 30 years of age. Professional golf is in great hands for years to come and is a must see event when these players all get together.
This year brings us another installment of the Olympics from France where the top15 players in the World Golf Rankings automatically qualify. Nelly Korda and Xander Schauffele will defend their titles from the 2020 games. The Presidents Cup on the Men’s tour will be contested with the best players from the United States vs an International Squad competing in Canada, while the Solheim Cup on the Ladies tour will be contested in Virginia with the American ladies looking to bring the cup back home.
One of the most iconic golf destinations, Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, opened its tenth course in April. Pinehurst No. 10 is a spectacular destination and is a must play for any lover of the game and the history of it. The World Golf Hall of Fame has relocated to Pinehurst after a 25 year run in St. Augustine, Florida, and features artifacts of golf’s greatest accomplishments. These include Jack Nicklaus’ MacGregor bag from the 1965 Masters, Seve Ballestoros’ wedge from his 1979 Open Championship win, and so much more.
Tiger Woods is still making history and plans to play once a month on tour, which is always special and draws a huge crowd when he tees up. We’re hoping to see his infamous Sunday Red Shirts if he plays well and is in contention on the weekend.
Television is also getting in on the act for us lovers of the game as the second season of “Full Swing” on Netflix dropped in February. Full Swing is an inside look at some of the best players in the world as they compete, travel and overcome on the PGA Tour. The first season made a household name out of 36 year-old PGA Tour journeyman Joel Dahmen, and season two was capped off with a look back at the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Kids all over the world are falling in love with the game. Since the pandemic one million youngsters have taken up the game. PGA Junior League continues to expand opportunities, and this year we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Drive, Chip & Putt competition. If you have never watched the finals the Sunday before the Masters tournament in April you are missing one of the best events in all of sport. Kids aged 7 to fifteen compete regionally to come to Augusta National for the finals each year. They compete in a three-stage challenge to decide who will be on the course where their heroes and idols will compete. Some of the most avid fans can’t even get a ticket to watch the Masters, and these young phenomes not only get to attend but they get to compete on the same course as the best in the world.
Golf is a game that once you fall in love with it, you never fall out of love. Engage yourself in the greatest game ever played and fall in love with the sport of a lifetime!
