Gender, Millennials, and leisure constraints: exploring golf’s participation decline

Lee Phillip McGinnis, James W. Gentry, Trenton M. Haltom

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper addresses the dearth of research regarding why the golf industry, specifically in the United States, is stagnating and, in some cases, losing participants. We focus on why Millennials are not playing golf to the same extent as previous generations. This is a conceptual paper, drawing upon literature in sports, leisure, gender, and marketing to track the current trends in sports participation, leisure, and household production to determine the constraints that might limit golf participation. In this paper, we highlight gender as an important social structure and conceptual lens for understanding social changes, particularly among Millennials, which could also contribute to the reductions in golf participation. We offer practical solutions for the golf industry to grow, especially among the Millennial audience. We suggest, among other actions, that golf should improve its appeal to the entire family.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)59-76
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Golf
  • gender norms
  • gender roles
  • household duties
  • leisure constraints

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gender, Millennials, and leisure constraints: exploring golf’s participation decline'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this