Why social media’s #shrinkthegame message has no place in golf
May 29, 2025
By: Jason Scott Deegan
Many older golfers lament the days pre-pandemic when golf wasn’t as popular or as expensive. We explain why today’s game is so much healthier and better for all.
There’s a hashtag floating around social media that should disturb you if you truly love golf:
#shrinkthegame
It reflects the sentiment of golfers who despise the current situation surrounding public golf. They want to rewind the clock to the pre-pandemic days when there were fewer people on the course and more open and affordable tee times. They loathe the influx of younger players who are bringing music, bolder outfits and more casual attitudes toward the game.
Recent data from the National Golf Federation (NGF) indicates that on-course golf participation in the United States is at its highest level since 2008, with more than 26 million Americans playing golf on a course in 2023, and more than 14 million others are swinging away on a simulator, range or golf entertainment facility like Topgolf.
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