The game of golf, like every other sport, has evolved over the years while adapting to the current trends and requirements. Below are the predictions for 2022 as the game of golf continues to evolve.
Female Golfers
The pandemic saw more women taking up golf than ever before, and this trend is expected to continue in 2022 as well. According to NGF, the number of female golfers increased by 450,000 in 2020 to 6 million female golfers, and increased again in 2021 by 200,000 to a total of 6.2 million female golfers. It is expected the rise is continuing in 2022 and it has been predicted to be the best year for women’s golf.
The year 2022 has more LPGA events scheduled than ever in the history of women’s golf. The net prize fund from these 34 events comes to a total of $87.5 million, which is again the highest ever in history.
This is great news for the future of golf as it means that golf is diversifying gender demographics and is becoming a more inclusive sport that can be enjoyed by many.
Integration of Technology
The pandemic forced every business and sector to quickly pivot to digital platforms and integrate technology into their model of operation. Golf did not escape this trend.
Country clubs that pride themselves on their traditional ways had to adapt to this change if they wanted to stay in business. They embraced contactless technology solutions so that the members could interact with the club seamlessly. The members could access food orders, tee times, recreational activity reservations, club calendar and member directories through mobile apps.
This trend of technology integration is not only expected to continue in 2022 but also spread to more areas of golf. Golf enthusiasts are expecting the pandemic channels to remain constant and become the new mode of operation.
Golf is now gaining interest in millennials and Gen Z as well. The year 2021 saw more people in the younger bracket take up golf than ever before. This is also another reason technology is expected to spread to many aspects of golf.
Fashion
Yes, you read that right. Fashion. As athleisure has taken the fashion world by storm, there is a prediction that Golfcore will be the next trend. This niche of clothing can be traced back to original brands who started Golfcore, streetwear designers and culture creators such as Tyler, the Creator, Macklemore, Malbon, and G/FORE, blurring the lines from traditional golf attire and streetwear while simultaneously maintaining the classic preppy feel of golf clothing.
Similarly to athleisure, Golfcore will focus and entice those who are looking for an athletic, chic look come summer. This trend is expected to range from professional athletes within golf to everyday wear as a vintage nod that is getting women excited about the sport again — tying into the Female Golfers trend previously mentioned. Golfcore fashion trends are expected to rise in popularity this year. WGSN’s Senior Retail Editor Sidney Morgan-Petro says, “[It] will be a key style driver for spring/summer 2022, as noted across more casual and fashion-led styling.”
As traditional golf clothing will no longer be restricted to those playing the game, this acts as an extension to those who have not played golf before to gain interest into the sport as the fashion barrier is broken, this is also opening the golf community up for a broader group of people, specifically a new generation who is interested in new traditions.
No longer will golf fashion be limited to country clubs. It is expected to transcend to daily life and assimilate seamlessly, replacing the Tenniscore fashion trend of last year.
Golf Course Trends
Many golf courses started to offer nighttime golf games during the last couple of years, and this has gained a lot of interest. This trend is expected to grow in 2022 as more golf courses pop up this year with nighttime golf game options.
It’s 2022, and environmental consciousness is higher than ever before. Many golf courses are considering the environmental impacts of their course management practices and shifting to more sustainable options. Aspects such as fertilization, irrigation, pest control, etc., are all included in this. Golf facilities are hiring superintendents to develop environmentally responsible programs to maintain their golf courses.
As previously mentioned, the younger generation is gaining interest in golf, and they are more vocal about the dangers and impact of the environment. Consider a 2020 report by First Insight, 73% of Gen Z consumers surveyed were willing to pay more for sustainable products, more than every other generation. Despite being the youngest cohort with many still in school, they were willing to spend the most in added costs, with 54% saying they would pay more than a 10% increase in price for a sustainably made product. Therefore, the trend of adopting environmentally friendly approaches to golf course maintenance is expected to grow in 2022.
