Golf Yourself Enlightened

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it” Confucius 

The world of Golf can often be known for being insular and slow to adopt change. Equally, it’s a world full of opinion and depending on who vocalises it with the most authority and gusto, it can often create groupthink, which puts up further barriers to change. 

Indeed, I am of the belief that the traditions and opinions which permeate around Golf have certainly shaped my own biases and judgements, for better or worse. 

Once upon a time, I told myself that, unless my round of Golf involved playing a full 18 holes, then I might as well not bother playing at all. After all, anything less than 18 holes isn’t real Golf. 

Similarly, I once believed that, unless it is played with golf clubs in your hand, then it cannot be considered real Golf. 

Through recent personal experiences, as well as the people I have met and interviewed for Golf Yourself Healthy, I have now come to think differently. 

Today, I see Golf through a more modern lens…and from my vantage point, it’s a thing of beauty. 

Getting a good read on Golf 

In what has become my bible for staying abreast of the latest commercial trends in Golf, the PGA’s Golf Business Quarterly magazine recently published the outputs of a research initiative, which looked at Golf’s participation pathways. 

The study - which focused on the UK and Ireland markets in particular - sought to understand people’s “Why” for playing Golf and how they like to play and interact with it. 

Alongside traditional “on course” Golf, various alternative formats of the game were also placed under the spotlight, including Pitch and Putt, Golf simulators and Adventure Golf. 

Interestingly, the research considered whether there is a perceived need to try to convert people from these formats into “on course” Golf, or to allow these formats the freedom to exist independently and enjoy their own identity. 

Set within this context, I became curious to do my own research and to educate myself further on some of these alternative formats, as well as who the key protagonists are and crucially, what makes them tick. 

I have something to confess…I’m having a fling with Golf

For a forthcoming episode of the GYH podcast to be released on Monday 30 September, I interviewed Austin Ebersole, World Number 1 Fling Golfer. 

Rather than using traditional golf clubs, Fling Golfers instead use one “Fling stick” for the duration of their round, whereby they hurl the Golf ball down the fairways and around the greens, before using the putter end of the stick to hole out. The sport is enjoying increasing popularity and prominence, with over 2,000 golf courses in 35 different countries having now embraced the format. 

Austin’s accession to his position of prominence within Fling Golf can at least partly be explained by the fact that he has a background in traditional Golf and is not only a certified instructor, but also played the game to a high standard whilst growing up. 

His why for turning his attentions and focus to Fling Golf is driven by resilience and an underdog mentality, born out of childhood adversity. Citing the trauma of being abandoned by his mother at a young age and the ways in which that affected his life and sporting prowess, he spoke of a determination to reach his true potential through Fling Golf, a sport which is still in its relative infancy (having been invented in 2012), and is, like Austin, on its own path of self discovery. 

As for who Fling Golf is trying to appeal to and the impact it hopes to have, Austin was at pains to explain to me during our conversation:

“It’s a totally different sport. No one in the Fling Golf community is trying to convert golfers over to Fling Golf. We’re really trying to tap into the 90% of the people in the world’s population that don’t even care to play Golf”.

It’s Like Golf…but with your Finger 

Looking further afield to Thailand, British entrepreneur and innovator Glyn Richards is currently gearing up for the launch of Fingagolf. Requiring only a few “Fingaclubs” and some play mats, it is a Golf themed board game,  which is due to hit the consumer market early in 2025. 

When asked about his motivations, Glyn explained that a childhood love of board games, combined with a talent and appreciation for Golf, provided the creative spark and inspiration to turn an idea into a reality. 

Recalling childhood memories of holidays spent on beaches and forming little Golf tees made out of sand, Glyn’s vivid imagination has served him well in life. In both in his full-time day job as a school teacher, as well as in his commercial endeavours, Glyn cares about bringing joy and fun into people’s lives, having designed and prototyped other sports themed games over the years. 

As for the impact he hopes for Fingagolf to have, Glyn’s vision most certainly has an undercurrent of inclusivity, as well as facilitating stronger human connections:

“In our testing phase, I’ve seen groups of strangers come together, with no prior knowledge of Golf. Once they’d played Fingagolf, they’d not only learned the difference between a par and a bogey, but they’d also bonded with each other and made new connections”

Less is More 

For all the innovation happening elsewhere within the game, what is traditional Golf doing to be more forward-thinking and attractive to new audiences? 

For our forthcoming GYH podcast episode to be aired on Monday 23 September,  I recently met with Katie Dawkins, Advanced PGA Professional and one of Golf Monthly’s Top 50 coaches. Katie has plenty of “skin in the game”, having herself played to a very high standard during her formative years of Golf and has been personally coached by some of the most reputable names in the business, including Sky Sports’ Tim Barter. 

Yet, for all the exposure and upbringing she’s had in traditional Golfing environments, Katie dares to think differently. In a recent article she wrote for Golf Monthly, Katie put forward a case for Golf embracing shorter formats of the game, such as 6, 9 or 12 hole rounds. 

Citing the demands on people’s time - such as family and work commitments - Katie not only vouches for shorter formats in the context of diary constraints, but also through a lens of inclusivity:

“It doesn’t matter how many clubs do schemes or free taster days for juniors, women and new golfers, if there isn’t a shorter version of golf available to them as part of their pathway into the sport and the club, then the majority don’t pursue the game.”

Don’t just open your stance, open your mind

Reflecting on my interactions with Austin, Glyn and Katie, they have helped me to appreciate that Golf is a game which can be enjoyed in a multitude of different ways. More importantly, they have helped me to open my mind to new possibilities and to better understand my own “Why” for playing Golf. 

Having previously been dismissive of shorter formats of Golf, I am now fully paid up and converted member of the 9 hole club and I’m loving every precious second of playing at my local course, in a condensed format which suits my current life circumstances. 

At the rate I’m going, I may even retire my 7 iron and swap it out for a Fling Stick or a Finga Club…

My conversations with the aforementioned trio have also afforded me further opportunities for self-reflection and personal development. 

In my discussion with Austin, we discussed our Christian faith and what it means to us. When I lost my son last year, I felt bereft of hope and lacking direction. Having met Austin and heard his own story of revelation, it has certainly uplifted me and strengthened my faith. 

As for Glyn, he and I shared several common viewpoints on Golf and indeed life. With his background in teaching and my own professional background in HR and working in Early Careers, we hypothesized about some of the biggest challenges facing young people today in education and the workplace. This got me to thinking about the younger generation’s relationship with Golf and what the game can do to become more attractive and relatable to this audience.

Lastly, my meeting with Katie has not only taught me to think even more inclusively and laterally about Golf, while our shared experience of child loss and mental health challenges meant that we could relate to each other at a level which others often cannot. 

I have said many times throughout the advent of Golf Yourself Healthy, that “Finding your People” in Golf and life is crucial, if we are to feel comfortable to be our true, authentic selves around others. 

While on this journey, I have been blessed to meet kind and supportive people like Austin,  Glyn and Katie, all of whom are open minded and progressive in the way they think and operate. 

I hope that, through writing and distributing these journal articles, it moves you to find your people too, as well as your “Why” for playing Golf. 

Until we meet again in October…remember to always Embrace the Rough and forever Cherish the Fairway.