Growth Investing

What We Can Learn From This Sport’s Major Comeback (And How To Profit)

Jimmy Butts
November 10, 2021

In the late 1990s, the sport of golf experienced a popularity spike, which was dubbed the “Tiger effect”. Sports fans will remember Tiger Woods’ 1996 PGA debut and the electrifying performances in the years to follow. But golf peaked after the turn of the century. Since then, it’s been a long, slow downward spiral. Between 2003 and 2018, more than 6.8 million recreational golfers left the sport, a 22% decline. Over the same period, more than 1,200 golf courses shuttered their doors. Golf equipment sales tanked. In 2016, Nike (NYSE: NKE) stepped away from the golf equipment business altogether, ditching… Read More

In the late 1990s, the sport of golf experienced a popularity spike, which was dubbed the “Tiger effect”. Sports fans will remember Tiger Woods’ 1996 PGA debut and the electrifying performances in the years to follow. But golf peaked after the turn of the century. Since then, it’s been a long, slow downward spiral. Between 2003 and 2018, more than 6.8 million recreational golfers left the sport, a 22% decline. Over the same period, more than 1,200 golf courses shuttered their doors. Golf equipment sales tanked. In 2016, Nike (NYSE: NKE) stepped away from the golf equipment business altogether, ditching the production of clubs, balls, and golf bags. That same year, the world’s largest golf retailer, Golfsmith International, filed for bankruptcy protection. There are a few reasons you could chalk up to the sport’s downfall. One is just how expensive it can be. After all, clubs, golf balls (which are routinely lost), and green fees quickly add up. Then there’s the… optics. The sport has long been perceived as an “elitist” pursuit, an old white man’s sport, and that certainly didn’t help draw in new younger players. Then, of course, pundits also blamed the Millennial generation’s lack of interest as… Read More