Why the World’s Most Powerful People Are Obsessed with Golf
Find out why the world’s most powerful people love golf—where business deals happen, connections grow, and influence is built.
Golf isn’t just a game; it’s a battlefield disguised as leisure, a chessboard where the world’s elite manoeuvre for power, influence, and access.
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To the uninitiated, it’s a slow-moving sport of well-dressed individuals strolling across manicured greens. But for those who understand its true nature, it’s one of the last unregulated arenas of power. Billion-pound deals are brokered in the open, far from prying eyes and digital surveillance.
Think about it: while the masses are glued to their screens, chasing productivity hacks and networking on LinkedIn, the real decision-makers are walking fairways, having conversations that will shape industries, economies, and nations.
The golf course is more than just a recreational escape; it’s the last private boardroom. No leaks, no recordings, no digital footprint. Just whispered agreements and handshakes over a well-placed putt.
The world’s most powerful people aren’t drawn to golf simply for the love of the sport. They play because golf offers something no corner office or high-rise boardroom can: access.
Membership at the right golf club isn’t just an expensive indulgence; it’s an invitation to a world where the price of entry isn’t measured in Euros alone, but in status, connections, and pedigree.
Augusta National, Ballybunion, and St Andrews aren’t just golf courses; they’re fortresses of exclusivity, where the privileged few reinforce their dominance. If you don’t belong, you’re not just missing out on a game; you’re missing out on the conversations that dictate the future.
Abelson Editors
The psychology of golf is another reason it grips the elite. This is not a sport of brute force or raw athleticism; it’s a mental war of patience, precision, and control. The very traits that define billionaires, prime ministers, and industry moguls. Strategic thinking, emotional discipline, and the ability to stay composed under pressure are the exact qualities golf demands.
A flustered CEO on the 18th hole tells you more about his leadership style than any boardroom speech ever could. It’s no coincidence that Warren Buffett, one of the world’s shrewdest investors, is an avid golfer, often testing business acumen over a round.
And then there’s the paradox of power; the higher you rise, the lonelier it gets. Golf offers the illusion of escape while maintaining exclusivity. A round of golf is a retreat, but it’s also a performance, a subtle display of influence, where who you’re playing with matters more than how you play.
But perhaps the most telling aspect of golf’s grip on the elite is its resistance to democratisation. Unlike other sports that have become more accessible, golf clings to its aura of privilege.
The right equipment, the right attire, the right etiquette; everything about the game whispers exclusivity. And in an era where most of the world is striving for access, the elite are retreating into spaces that remain off-limits. Golf isn’t just a pastime; it’s a statement.
So, the next time you see a CEO, a world leader, or a tech mogul teeing off, know this: they’re not just playing. They’re engaging in a ritual of power, strategy, and dominance. If you’re serious about influence, can you afford to ignore the fairways? The real game isn’t just on the green; it’s behind the scenes, where the future is quietly being decided.
