Let's be real, the cost of living isn't exactly playing nice with anyone's budget right now - groceries, mortgages, energy bills. Something's getting cut. And when the squeeze is on, anything that feels like a "luxury" tends to be first on the chopping block.
So where does golf sit?
If you're reading this and wondering whether it's time to wind back your time on the course, here's our take: golf isn't the luxury you think it is. And in a climate like this one, it is one of the smartest things you can keep investing in.
Here's why.
Golf Has Quietly Become a Wellness Essential
The way people think about golf has shifted, and it's not just a vibe; the numbers back it up. Australia has recorded over five consecutive years of club membership growth, and rounds played globally have hit record levels^. This isn't a post-COVID blip. It's a structural change in how people value their time and what they choose to spend it on.
When budgets tighten, people don't just cut randomly. They protect the things that give them the most back. And golf, when you actually break it down, delivers a remarkable amount in a single outing:
- Physical exercise: walking 18 holes covers around 8km
- Mental reset: time away from screens, noise, and pressure
- Social connection: one of the few sports where you can genuinely catch up with mates for four hours
- Time in nature: something we're increasingly starved of
That's four real, meaningful benefits in one activity. A gym membership gives you the exercise, but its often indoors. Cycling gets you the fitness and the fresh air, but try having a proper conversation at 30km/h. Golf is one of the only activities that delivers all four at once.
Golf isn't just a sport anymore. It's a form of therapy, personal training, and a way to escape the stressors of life.
The Sport Has Reinvented Itself
One of the reasons golf weathers economic downturns so well is that it's no longer a one-format sport. The traditional 18-hole round is still going strong, but it's evolved into a whole new ecosystem.
Golf simulators and entertainment venues are booming. Nine-hole and par-3 formats are growing. A new generation of young, diverse players is reshaping what a round of golf looks like. The sport is meeting people where they are, rather than demanding they fit a mould.
Golf Continues to Prove Itself Through the Tough Times
The sport came through the Global Financial Crisis. It bounced back from COVID not just intact, but bigger with participation continuing to surge. Every time the outside world gets harder, golf seems to hold a particular appeal.
That track record matters. You're not jumping on a trend. You're participating in a sport with a long history of resilience and a growing community.
Your Gear Is an Investment, Not an Expense
Here's something worth reframing: the equipment you use on the course isn't a cost, it's a smart investment that enhances your experience, helps it last longer, and offers more value per round, making you feel more satisfied with your choices.
At Motocaddy, we've always believed you shouldn’t pay more for less and that the right gear changes how you experience the game. An electric buggy doesn't just save your back, it keeps your energy where it belongs, on your swing, your game, and the conversation with your playing partners. When you're not lugging a bag for four hours, you play better, you enjoy it more, and you want to come back year after year, long into your retirement.
That's the kind of gear that pays for itself, making golf more enjoyable, more sustainable, and more worth every dollar you've chosen to spend on it.
Whether it's one of our electric buggies, a lightweight push buggy, or a golf bag that actually fits your game, we build products for golfers who take their time on the course seriously, because your time matters.
So, Should You Keep Playing?
Yes. And here's the simplest way to think about it.
In uncertain times, the activities that survive are the ones that earn their place in your week by giving you something real in return. Golf does that. It's exercise, it's social, it's mental space, it's one of the few places where your phone can actually stay in your bag.
The question isn't really whether you can afford to keep playing golf. It's whether you can afford to give up the one part of your week that genuinely recharges you.
We'd argue you can't.
^Source: Motocaddy Trolley Report, 2026.
