Golfers are less bothered about competition than you’d think

A new survey of amateur golfers has found that less than eight percent view competition as the best thing about the game.

The option came last out of five responders could pick.

Golfing firm Complete Golfer commissioned a survey to find out what the best thing about playing golf is, and provided six options: exercise, competition, enjoyment, the means to test yourself, the social aspect and an excuse to have a drink.

Just 7.6 percent of those polled picked the option of playing competitively.

While some may criticise the methodology of the poll, it does suggest that clubs that put a huge amount of emphasis on providing a facility for low handicap golfers to compete against each other may be missing a better source of income.

One in four golfers said the best thing about playing golf is the enjoyment they get from it.

Not far behind in popularity with 22 percent of the vote was exercise. With 20 percent of the vote, respondents said they found the best part about a round of golf to be the social aspect.

Just nine percent of people primarily like golf because it is a great excuse to have a drink or two, the same figure that picked the means to test yourself.

“The findings would seem to suggest that amateur golfers like to focus on the more casual and social aspects of the game, and leave the competitiveness and self-improvement to the professionals, which is probably for the best,” said Complete Golfer spokesman Chris O’Rourke.