Why Do the Young Generations Not Play Golf?

Abstract

Golf is one of the most competitive sports for tourists in Portugal but not among the young generation. The young population often neglected this sport and categorized it as an elite sport for seniors. This situation may compromise the position Portugal has of the best golf destination in the world. To keep this position it is time to promote and attract young people starting with the residents. This research, exploratory in its essence, used a convenience sample to test why young people do not feel attracted to practice golf. The results suggest that there are very few teenagers willing to practice golf. The arguments are mostly this sport is not affordable, it is more tourist oriented, and is connoted as an eclectic social activity more than as a sport. These results, with evident implications on the attractiveness of golf, suggest that to overcome this situation the promotion should be oriented to attract young people.

A cross-country comparison of Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia golf tourism experience: a perceptual experience of Malaysian golfers

“…We found that the availability and condition of golf club amenities play a pivotal role for these golfers, significantly impacting their overall experience and the club's revenue generation. At the same time, major amenities such as the golf course and clubhouse are indeed crucial (Cham et al ., 2021; Lee and Lee, 2022; López-Bonilla et al ., 2019; Portugal et al ., 2020; Song et al ., 2021; Thanh et al ., 2021; Zhang et al ., 2022). As evidence, some golfers noted that lockers in Thailand and Indonesia were consistently well-maintained, aesthetically pleasing and smelled pleasant, factors that contributed to their overall positive impression and intention to return (Brown et al ., 2017; Brey and Meitner, 2022; Kang et al ., 2022; Kim, 2020; Kwon et al ., 2021).…”

“…As a result, the number of golf courses in Southeast Asia is mushrooming, with Thailand leading with over 250 courses, Indonesia (69 courses) and over 200 golf courses in Malaysia alone (Golfsavers, 2022). Hence, sport management professionals need to understand the economic impact and potential of golf tourism in order to capitalise on this lucrative market (Cham et al ., 2021; Lee and Lee, 2022; López-Bonilla et al ., 2019; Portugal et al ., 2020; Song et al ., 2021; Thanh et al ., 2021; Zhang et al ., 2022). As such, the ECT provides a structured framework to assess whether these expectations are met and how they influence satisfaction in the golf tourism context.…”

“…Hence, understanding the behaviour, preferences and expectations of golf tourists is crucial for tourism destination stakeholders to understand the needs and expectations of golf tourists (Cham et al ., 2021; Lee and Lee, 2022), thereby remaining competitive and encouraging repeat visits. Besides, golf enthusiasts have specific criteria they look for in their ideal golfing getaway; hence, this study presents significant business opportunities for sport management professionals (Portugal et al ., 2020; Song et al ., 2021; Thanh et al ., 2021; Zhang et al ., 2022). By studying the preferences and experiences of core golfers and sport managers can provide valuable insights into course managers and golf course management in these countries, aiding in the development and improvement of golf facilities.…”

Golf Tourism and Sustainability: Content Analysis and Directions for Future Research

“…Golf and tourism are closely related, so their combination constitutes one of the most critical sectors for the tourism industry [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. However, younger generations do not seem to be as interested in playing golf as previous generations [11,12].…”