When I was given this assignment, I didn’t know where to start. Why is 2026 better than 2025? Was 2025 better than 2024? If so, can you explain?
These questions turned existential and soon led to further questions, not only for the greater golf world, but for myself. And the truth is, the answer to why 2026 will be the best golf year ever is always very personal. It’s more of a diary than an Excel document.
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That’s why I stepped back to try to answer your question. I tried zooming out as much as possible. And suddenly there are some pretty obvious answers as to why now (and next year) is better than ever for golfers, golf fans, etc. My thinking is rooted in this one truth: golf is everywhere.
It’s on Instagram. LeBron James’ Instagram, to be exact. This sport has officially acquired one of the greatest celebrities on the planet and is sure to retain him for years to come. But if you were paying attention, other Golf has captured the hearts of everyone, including athletes and celebrities. Justin Bieber. Kelce brothers. Catherine Zeta-Jones. Yes, the President of the United States.
It’s on YouTube. Golf is so leveraged on YouTube that the phrase “YouTube Golf” has become its own industry…and it’s not going anywhere. YouTube golfers receive sponsorship exemption benefits for professional tournaments. Tommy Fleetwood suddenly decides to try his hand at golf left-handed, exclusively on YouTube. Not to mention that Bryson DeChambeau recently hinted that he might be leaning less in the direction of LIV Golf and leaning more fully into YouTube Golf.
It’s on TV more than ever before. It may have felt strange for TGL to push its season toward greater competition with NFL football and literally start the year on a wintry Sunday afternoon, but look around. There aren’t that many slots available for broadcast on TV. more Sports. And golf continues to receive more TV appearances than many other sports. There’s TGL on ESPN and (sometimes) ABC. Television coverage of the Masters increases every year. ESPN+ is broadcasting the opening round of the PGA Tour. LIV Golf is frequently on the FOX Sports airwaves during the summer. Thanks to recent deals with FM Global and Trackman, LPGA Tour broadcasts are set for new and improved coverage in 2026. Not to mention NBC and CBS, the longtime custodians of the professional game.
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It’s on Reddit a lot. I hope you’ll visit GOLF.com and read the articles my colleagues and I have put together. But there are other places where you can find simple friendships, expert advice, travel tips, and more from golfers around the world. It’s about a very connected sport, and you can find tons of it in places like Reddit’s golf page. Regulars there post about recent scores, travel, tips, equipment finds, and more. There are also feeds dedicated to topics such as Pro Golf, LIV Golf, and even popular golf podcasts. There are many be there. Just have to go find it.
It’s in your imagination. That means it’s customizable. You can have your own wedges printed just like the pros. You can get grips in the color of your choice when you take the clubs out of your bag. For a long time, you could only buy quirky headcovers, but now custom elements in the game are everywhere. Golf shoes are infinitely customizable. Just buy a pair of sneakers and screw a small golf cleat into the sole. Whatever style of golf you desire, you can achieve it online in about an hour. That didn’t happen 5 years ago!
Golf is like a college class. Please bring a roommate. This is my final note. This is something I like to invoke often when talking about games. This hobby, recreation, sports, whatever – it’s the same as going to college. You are pursuing a degree and are surrounded by different people who are also pursuing the same thing. You’re probably quite close to (and love pursuing together) other people on campus. It’s all your freedom and everyone is on a different level. Perhaps you are a cold-hearted person who has a strap around your neck and is still thinking about how to move the ball from right to left instead of just from left to right.
Perhaps you have declared your major and are taking introductory level classes in that field, such as golf travel. Is there anyone ahead of you in terms of travel or courses? They are in the 400 level class and study Rayner, Mackenzie, and Doak. Is it at graduate school level in that major? That is the Golf Club Atlas bulletin board. Or you can dive down the YouTube rabbit hole of agriculture.
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Maybe you’re more interested in teaching. In the 900 level class, you will learn about the different “P” positions of the swing and the associated body biomechanics. If that’s too much for you, you can join as many quads as you like and take in as many elective classes as the ones that catch your eye. That is the brilliance of golf today as we approach 2026. There are many ways to access it. Choose the one you like the most.
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