A friend of mine went through a messy divorce at 38. He got a remote job, sees his kids every other weekend, barely spoke to anyone.
He was dragged to a Tuesday night 9-hole round a while back, and hasn’t missed a Tuesday.
When I asked him about it last month, he said: “It’s not really about the golf. It’s about showing up somewhere where people expect me.”
Got me curious and I spent the last few days going down a rabbit hole on golf and social isolation.
Some of this data is shocking:
Adults aged 30-44 have the highest loneliness rates of any age group—29%. The health impacts are insane: equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes daily, 29% increased heart disease risk, 32% increased stroke risk, 50% increased dementia risk in older adults.
Meanwhile, 67% of European (where I am so I researched that) golfers (9.4 million people) don’t have club memberships because they can’t afford or don’t want traditional membership structures.
37% of newer golfers cite social connection as their primary reason for playing.
Data on team formats is especially bonkers.
Studies show team sport participants have better overall mental health than both individual sport participants AND people who don’t play sports at all.
It’s the social mechanisms—shared identity, regular routine, mutual support—that create the mental health outcomes.
England Golf saw a 98% year-over-year increase in 9-hole score submissions.
What struck me is we’re watching two massive problems collide with a proven solution: millions of people desperately seeking affordable, flexible golf access + millions experiencing dangerous social isolation + a sport that’s scientifically proven to address both.
My friend is still terrible at golf, alive, engaged, and part of this game.
Anyway, this is personal for me too—I realized through coaching this year that “community” is a core value of mine, but had zero expression of it.
I’m now researching how to build better golf communities for people aged 25-45. If you’re in that demographic and have ideas please reach out.
Pictured: me in the middle of quantum physics equations kind of thoughts before slicing it 80°
by AlexAtFYeah
15 Comments
Thoughtful and interesting post. I’m American and in that demo. I work from home and since the pandemic have taken on part time hours at a little par-27 nine hole in the summer. I do it so I have a free place to practice and get to meet some other local golfers.
In the US or at least my part of it there are a few apps that try connect local golfers/set up drop in leagues. My course has had time blocked off for one of the “App leagues” for two seasons at this point. It hasn’t been thriving. I’d love to hear some ideas that would help our little club be more welcoming and encourage more socialization between our players.
Overall people/humans thrive on social like mindedness and companionship. Unfortunately golf comes with a built in inhibitor…cost! Just my two cents…
I think I’ve made more friends in the last 2 months since I started playing golf than I have in the last 10 years.
We had a ‘get into golf’ 10 week group lessons. It was €100 total for groups of 10-15. There were women only and men only groups. Some men turned up alone, some with one or two pals. Out of my group of 12, 6 of us joined the club we practiced at.
It consisted of 5 group lessons at a range and 5 days playing 4 holes on the course.
There are group range sessions organised which I think are a great affordable entry to golf.
Friday nights in my 20s I was in the pub, now the range is full of younger groups of men playing the toptracer sim at the range
Straight to the feels.
I couldn’t agree more brother I’m 32 pretty socially isolated from previous communities, have a few constants that I golf with but I’m privileged to be part of a small county corse here in New Zealand where I know if I rock up by myself I’ll end up playing with a random, over the years those randoms have become acquaintances, some turn into mates. Having a place people know you and share in your enthusiasm for bettering yourselves at this funny game, celebrate your wins etc its valuable.
Nothing maters for 4 hours except golf, tune out from the news and the world, get some sunshine and have a laugh.
I am grateful for having the guts to go and play by myself cause it meant I ended up meeting people, the problem if you have 1 or 2 mates you never play without is that you may miss out on building further relationships with others at your club.
Holy ChatGPT
I only took up golf properly this year. When anyone asks why I just answer that it’s nice to be outside with mates, not sat in a pub with everyone glued to their phones.
It’s genuinely changed my outlook on the pub culture which I’ve consumed over the last 15-20 years.
Can be tough when you’re playing dog, and you want to quit, but then got to remember why I am there. All a bit of fun.
That ball is teed up too high.
I go out constantly as a single because dudes I play with are injured back issues etc. I meet people all the time it’s great.
I can’t stop laughing.
Hobbies can only do so much…dudes need to start speaking about their feelings or see a therapist.
Golf is an escape from everything else.
I’m not doing any doom scrolling or thinking about work constraints or other problems when golfing.
I’m sure it’s the same for everyone else.
It is nice to mostly meet new people and learn I’m usually just as bad at the game as they are.
I find the adventurous notion of the game the best part. Learning a new landscape.
I might micro improvements in my game some weekends but other than that it’s just about the complete disconnect from everything else that makes it worthwhile.
I’ve also noticed the mental part of the game has forced me to become even more patient than I used to be.
The modern day hustle and bustle of societal expectations just wear everyone else down.
>If you’re in that demographic and have ideas, please reach out
Well I’m 25 and I have no local friends, just my brother and a friend 2 hours away. Getting my brother into golf but other than that, I just go by myself. I’d like to join a social league next season even though I suck, but I’m afraid of being a solo, no idea what I’m doing, being forced on someone elses group just because I signed up. Feels like I’m gonna end up not making actual friends and being an unwanted +1 so I’m hesitant. Make it not like that.
I’m in the demographic, tried a couple different leagues and never really connected with anyone. I also kinda feel late to the party where the guys I know that play, already have their group and anytime I invite them, they can’t play for whatever reason.
Worst part was that I moved last year and the 6 months before I moved, I started to get in a regular rhythm, playing with friends. I really miss it.