It seems like everyone is suddenly playing golf. From professional footballers to NBA stars, from influencers to neighbours. Golf has made a remarkable comeback in recent years – more modern, more versatile and much cooler than a decade ago.
What’s behind this boom? And why are top athletes, of all people, finding a new sporting home in golf?

The golf boom in figures – no longer a niche
The pandemic, especially the summer of 2020, was the first big kick-start: as a low-contact outdoor sport, golf was one of the few options for getting out and about. And many stuck with it. In Germany, the number of registered golfers has risen from around 640,000 in 2019 to over 680,000 in 2024. The number of golfers in Austria has also risen in recent years, reaching a new record of over 125,000 members in 2024.
But this is not just a short-term trend: 2024 also shows that golf is growing. Not only among best agers, but above all among a new target group: active, sporty people between 25 and 45 who see golf as a serious sporting and mental challenge.

Why so many professional athletes pick up a golf club
Whether footballer, basketball player, tennis player or winter sports pro – anyone who performs (or has performed) at the highest level will sooner or later end up on the golf course. And that’s no coincidence.
Golf appeals precisely to the qualities that many top athletes have already internalised: Focus, technique, precision, mental strength – but without the physical wear and tear or injury risk of other sports. At the same time, golf offers a completely new appeal: you are on your own, every shot is a challenge, every round a mental game.
Many use golf as a way to stay active after their career ends – but without constant pressure or team responsibility. Others enjoy the balance during the current season: golf calms, grounds, lets you switch off – and still challenges you.

Numerous examples show that this trend has long since reached the stars:
⚽ Gareth Bale, former Welsh professional footballer, is a passionate golfer – so much so that he even had his own golf hole built in his garden.
🎾 Roger Federer, tennis legend, uses golf as a way to relax and slow down.
🎿 Felix Neureuther, for the former German ski star, the golf course offers a welcome change and a relaxing way to actively organise his time after skiing.

🎾 Serena Williams, tennis superstar, is known for spending time on the golf course after her career ends.
🎿 Ricarda Haaser: Austrian ski racer enjoys playing golf as a balance to skiing.

The new style: flexible, urban, young
The new generation of golfers plays differently. Golf no longer has to take place on 18-hole courses with a dress code. Urban golf in parks, virtual golf on simulators and modern event formats such as TopGolf make golf much more accessible today.
What used to seem elitist is now dynamic and open to everyone. Golf has reached a new, younger target group thanks to modern technologies and creative events such as TopGolf. Social media shows a different side of the sport – authentic, refreshing and full of energy. Golf is now associated with urban settings and a modern lifestyle: It’s not just about the game, it’s about the atmosphere.

Between competition and mindfulness – what makes it so appealing
What many people underestimate when they take their first swing: Golf is a game of the mind. It’s about focussing, self-control and emotional intelligence. You learn to deal with setbacks, develop patience and make decisions – with every single shot.
Golf slows you down without being boring. It challenges you without rushing you. And that is precisely its appeal – especially today, when many people are looking for balance, concentration and real flow.

Conclusion: Golf is here to stay
The boom since 2020 was no coincidence – nor was it a brief boom. Golf has changed. It is more modern, younger and more diverse. And it attracts people who are looking for more than just a sport: concentration, nature, competition, community.
When even sporting greats like Federer, Williams and co. flourish in it, it shows that golf is everything – except old-fashioned.