It was not so long ago a fairly elite sport. Although, not quite in the ranks of polo, it was certainly a director’s game. The golf course was a place where the men in the grey suits could take leave of their office chairs and do some much needed exercise without fully neglecting their working life.

The exclusivity of the game for this particular sector would probably have to do with the fact that the equipment is quite expensive and the game itself isn’t cheap to play. However, this is increasingly becoming less of a barrier for the thousands of people, men and women alike who are attracted to the sport. We are no longer talking about the “fat cats” who want to do business over a game but those who are pursuing the hobby simply for the sake of doing some sport without any thought of the networking potential that the game offers.

No longer is golf the reserve of the high income bracket but its appeal is covering a much wider market regardless of age, gender, profession etc..

I, personally avoid it as I am not prepared to make the time to get “sucked” in. However, although I can’t appreciate the obsession with the game, I can appreciate that golf courses appear to be very green, tranquil almost sanctuary like places. I can imagine the sport offers, particularly men, an opportunity to switch off without the intense self awareness of practising, say, yoga. Perhaps it is this switched off state that the golf “widows” men retreat to given any spare moment.

Naturally, over the years, property developers have cottoned on to this cult like addiction and whole urbanisations have been designed around golf so that the “widows” can at least keep an eye on their men as they indulge. Some developers are even going as far to embark upon city sized projects with golf at the core.

But surely golf cannot be that central to people’s daily lives? Of course like any sport golf will have its devotees. But could it be that many people currently “signing up” are just following a fad that they will eventually tire with and move on. In other words could golf ultimately fall out of vogue? And if it did what would be the consequence for the Spanish Costas? I am sure that for every “widow” breathing a sigh of relief, there would be at least one hundred investors tearing their hair out! We would certainly be left with some much needed greenery around our urbanisations but I am sure that it would be quickly replaced by the latest fad or more likely, more property construction.

Of course, it is difficult to predict the future popularity of anything so all we can do is sit and wait, while the developers cash in on its current status. And, in the meantime, anyone for quidditch?