When I was given this assignment, I didn’t really know where to start. Why would 2026 be better than 2025? Was 2025 better than 2024? Could I even explain it if I did?
These questions became existential and soon led to more – for the larger golf world but also for myself. And the truth is, the answer to why 2026 could be the best year for golf ever is always deeply personal. More diary than Excel document.
So to try to answer the question for you, I backed away. I zoomed out as far as possible. And suddenly there were some pretty obvious answers as to why now (and the coming year) is better for golfers, golf fans, etc. than ever before. My thoughts are rooted in this one truth: golf is everywhere you look.
It’s on Instagram. LeBron James’ Instagram, to be precise. The sport has officially captured one of the world’s biggest celebrities and is sure to keep him for many years to come. But if you paid attention other athletes and celebrities, golf has everyone in its grip. Justin Bieber. The Kelce brothers. Catherine Zeta-Jones. Yes, the President of the United States.
It’s on YouTube. Golf is so prevalent on YouTube that the phrase “YouTube Golf” has become its own industry… and it’s not going anywhere. Sponsorship exemptions for professional tournaments are granted to YouTube golfers. Tommy Fleetwood has suddenly decided to take up golf left-handed… exclusively on YouTube. Not to mention that Bryson DeChambeau recently let it be known that he might lean less towards LIV Golf and more towards YouTube Golf.
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It’s on TV… more than ever. It may have felt strange that TGL would push its season into greater competition with NFL football, literally starting the year on a Sunday afternoon in the winter, but look around. There are not that many places available for television more sport. And golf still has more TV spots than many other sports. There’s TGL on ESPN and (occasionally) ABC. There is more TV coverage of the Masters seemingly every year. There will be opening rounds of PGA Tour play on ESPN+. LIV Golf often fills the radio waves of FOX Sports in the summer. LPGA Tour broadcasts will be new and improved in 2026 thanks to a recent deal with FM Global and Trackman. Not to mention the long-time administrators of the professional game, NBC and CBS.
It’s on Reddit a lot of. I’m glad you’re here, at GOLF.com, reading the work my colleagues and I have put together. But there are other places where you can find simple camaraderie, expert advice, travel tips, etc. from regular golfers around the world. This is a great sport, and you can find it in abundance at places like Reddit’s Golf page. Regulars there post about their recent scores, trips, tips, equipment finds, etc. There are feeds dedicated to pro golf, LIV Golf, and even the talking points on popular golf podcasts. There is a lot out there. You just have to look for it.
It’s in your imagination. By that I mean it is customizable. You can have your own wedges printed, just like the professionals do. You can get any color grip you want when you take clubs out of your bag. For a long time, all you could buy were crazy headcovers, but now the game’s custom elements are everywhere. Golf shoes are endlessly adaptable. You can just buy sneakers and screw small golf shoes into the soles. Whatever golf look you want, you can achieve it online in about an hour. We didn’t have that five years ago!
Golf is like a college class. Bring your roommate. We will make this our last comment; it’s one I like to invoke often when talking about the game. This hobby, recreation, sports, whatever – it’s like going to college. You’re working on a degree and you’re surrounded by all kinds of others trying to do the same. You’re probably pretty close (and enjoy following along with others on campus). It’s all at your disposal, and everyone is on different levels. Maybe you’re the fresh one, you wear your lanyard around your neck and you’re still figuring out how to move the ball from right to left instead of just left to right.
Maybe you’ve declared your major and are taking entry-level classes in that field, such as golf trips. The people ahead of you in terms of travel/courses? They are in the 400 level class studying Raynor, MacKenzie and Doak. The graduate level stuff in that major? Those are the message boards on Golf Club Atlas. Or dive down YouTube rabbit holes about agronomy.
Maybe you prefer instruction. The 900 level lessons teach you about different “P” positions of the swing and the biomechanics of your body that go along with them. If that’s too much, then yes, you can hang out in the quads as much as you want, working on some electives on whatever strikes your fancy. That’s the beauty of golf right now, on the eve of 2026. There are so many ways to access it. Choose what you like most.
#golf #year