4 Ways Golf Is Changing In The Modern Era
Although the game of golf is steeped in tradition dating back centuries, it is currently in the midst of a series of changes that could not only alter the culture of the sport but the way the game itself is played.
From new professional Tours using different formats, to the constant evolution of golf equipment and advancement of technology in the game, many new ideas are being proposed to golfers of all levels to make the game more modern, more appealing to the public, and more exciting to watch.
We take a closer look at some of the biggest driving forces behind these changes below…
LIV Tour
Anyone with even a passing interest in professional golf will know all about the LIV Golf Tour by now.
The emergence of LIV Golf has rocked the men’s professional game to the core, with huge names like Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau trading in their PGA Tour cards for a spot on the more lucrative Saudia Arabia-backed LIV Tour.
The big change introduced by LIV Golf is the 54-hole, shotgun-start format to the tournaments. Traditionally, golf tours and prestigious tournaments have always been spread over four long days. Over the first two days, players play 36 holes (18 holes each day) to make it through the cut line and to play in the final two days of the tournament.
Those who successfully make the cut then carry on playing another 36 holes for the chance to win big money prizes and the prestige of being the tournament champion. However, some golf fans feel that in these fast-moving times, playing 72 holes can become tedious and asks too much of fans to give over their entire weekend to watch.
It’s perhaps no surprise then that LIV Golf have had some success with their idea to shorten their tournaments to 54 holes (LIV are the Roman numerals for ‘54’). This is a much shorter tournament and is condensed even further through the introduction of a ‘shotgun start’, in which all participants start at the same time on different holes on the course.
The format is a dream for advertisers as you will have a captive audience for a fixed amount of time. Everyone finishes at the same time and viewers and spectators can plan their day far easier.
Although it has been extremely divisive in the world of golf, the emergence of LIV Golf has highlighted the need for the professional game to modernise in order to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive sports and media landscape.
Golf and social media
Social media has become part of our everyday lives, and that extends to how we interact and engage with the professional Tours.
Perhaps as a sign that they are open to the idea of modernisation, the PGA Tour have not only welcomed the use of social media, they have actively encouraged players to use the different platforms to raise their profile, and that of the Tour.
The PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program rewards the players who generate the most positive interest in the Tour each year – which includes on social media.
The presence of players on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook has not only increased the player-fan interaction but has also played an essential role in the modernisation of the game. Through social media, players can share more about themselves, their training drills, equipment choices and more.
New golf technology
Technology continues to progress all around us, and the game of golf has not been immune to the rapid influx of new devices and apps.
There are now a wide range of different products to help golfers track their game and improve their swing, such as Smart GPS Watches, Rangefinders and Launch Monitors. All of these can be controlled through apps on smartphones and provide the modern golfer with more data and insight than ever.
The popularity of golf tech, particularly in-game aids such as watches that suggest what club to use and where to aim, have caused many golf clubs to update tournament rules – a clear sign that the modern world is having a profound effect on the very fabric of the game.
Golf club technology
As well as the new devices golfers are using to improve their game, the technology behind golf clubs continues to develop.
The design and performance of clubs – particularly drivers and fairway woods – has changed massively in recent years, with amateur players now gaining extra yards and better accuracy thanks largely to their new clubs.
Improved aerodynamics, component weights, specialist shafts, and larger, more forgiving club faces have enabled golfers to hit the ball farther and straighter than ever before.
The improvements in club technology over the past 15-20 years has led to many experts in the world of golf to question whether it has gone too far. Newer technology has enabled even the most amateur of golfers to improve their game, and there are some arguing for the need to rail this technology back.
