Golf requires large fields, so it is very expensive, so only wealthy people can afford it, so this is why it became a game for the wealthy.
Other than that, it does require physical skill, if not, all the players would have about the same score.
Other than that, it is less physically demanding, so it's good for older people, and people often grow old before they manage to amass wealth, so yet another reason why is it popular among the wealthy.
Golf requires large fields, so it is very expensive
It could be the reason in Europe, but not in large countries like US. Here in Russia 18 hole field will be around $100 per person with all equipment rented for whole day. Not much, really. Ski resort or buggy racing will be much more expensive.
Other than that, it does require physical skill
I would say it require more aiming and movement coordination skills. And that skils develop pretty fast. Of course not everybody will reach the level when you kick a ball directly into a hole at 200 meters, or do that tricks with twists and using landscape, but everybody will be able to play.
so it's good for older people, and people often grow old before they manage to amass wealth
It could be good for old people, if not that small electric carts, that ruins possible health benefits of walk from hole to hole in fresh air. :)
$100 is 1/6 of median salary in Russia. An average person can't afford golf.
It does not work like that here. By that logic an average person in Russia can't afford most entertainments here or tourism. But people travel and entertain themselves without significant problems. And in huge amounts. Basically, only regularity of spending money for entertainment depends on salary, very little people reject it. Of course an average person with $600 salary would not spend $100 every weekend for entertainment (some will do, but they should be heavily obsessed with that), but could afford it once in a month without problems. Or, say, will pay for half a day, not for the whole day in case of golf if he likes that thing.
Of course there is people who live tight, say paying loans for cars, homes and whatever big purchases they did on borrowed money, counting every ruble, but they are not very common. Most people prefer to have some free money in their budget, than to be tight, even in exchange to the older car or smaller TV. Funny, that if you ask anybody about money - all will tell you that it'ss not enough and he they are short of it. But when on occasion same person came to someone birthday, or just barbeque, or participate in some group intertainment (weekend golf, f.e.) with you, then he will always be with a decent birthday gift, or with good food and booze, or with a sum enough to pay for entertainment.
skiing and buggy racing are also considered rich people sports.
Mountain skiing is a very widespread entertainment here. Doesn't look like average people can't afford that. It is mostly average people who are ski resorts visitors. Initially, when this business start to develop, ski resort owners build houses around artificial mountain, in the hope that rich customers will rent or buy them, but they are always empty even years later, despite the lines to elevators on mountain during season. And cars on a filled to the top parking near ski resort definitely doesn't look like cars of wealthy people. :)
Paintball games is also not cheap, but is very popular. And no, people I often played with, around decade ago, definitely were not wealthy or even solid middle-class. And it was even more expensive at the time than now, in comparison with median salary.
IDK, may be, ocean surfing could be named an entertainment for wealthy here, just due to the cost of tickets to the closest ocean beach suitable for surfing.
Golf requires large fields, so it is very expensive, so only wealthy people can afford it, so this is why it became a game for the wealthy.
Other than that, it does require physical skill, if not, all the players would have about the same score.
Other than that, it is less physically demanding, so it's good for older people, and people often grow old before they manage to amass wealth, so yet another reason why is it popular among the wealthy.
It could be the reason in Europe, but not in large countries like US. Here in Russia 18 hole field will be around $100 per person with all equipment rented for whole day. Not much, really. Ski resort or buggy racing will be much more expensive.
I would say it require more aiming and movement coordination skills. And that skils develop pretty fast. Of course not everybody will reach the level when you kick a ball directly into a hole at 200 meters, or do that tricks with twists and using landscape, but everybody will be able to play.
It could be good for old people, if not that small electric carts, that ruins possible health benefits of walk from hole to hole in fresh air. :)
$100 is 1/6 of median salary in Russia. An average person can't afford golf.
And yes, skiing and buggy racing are also considered rich people sports.
It does not work like that here. By that logic an average person in Russia can't afford most entertainments here or tourism. But people travel and entertain themselves without significant problems. And in huge amounts. Basically, only regularity of spending money for entertainment depends on salary, very little people reject it. Of course an average person with $600 salary would not spend $100 every weekend for entertainment (some will do, but they should be heavily obsessed with that), but could afford it once in a month without problems. Or, say, will pay for half a day, not for the whole day in case of golf if he likes that thing.
Of course there is people who live tight, say paying loans for cars, homes and whatever big purchases they did on borrowed money, counting every ruble, but they are not very common. Most people prefer to have some free money in their budget, than to be tight, even in exchange to the older car or smaller TV. Funny, that if you ask anybody about money - all will tell you that it'ss not enough and he they are short of it. But when on occasion same person came to someone birthday, or just barbeque, or participate in some group intertainment (weekend golf, f.e.) with you, then he will always be with a decent birthday gift, or with good food and booze, or with a sum enough to pay for entertainment.
Mountain skiing is a very widespread entertainment here. Doesn't look like average people can't afford that. It is mostly average people who are ski resorts visitors. Initially, when this business start to develop, ski resort owners build houses around artificial mountain, in the hope that rich customers will rent or buy them, but they are always empty even years later, despite the lines to elevators on mountain during season. And cars on a filled to the top parking near ski resort definitely doesn't look like cars of wealthy people. :)
Paintball games is also not cheap, but is very popular. And no, people I often played with, around decade ago, definitely were not wealthy or even solid middle-class. And it was even more expensive at the time than now, in comparison with median salary.
IDK, may be, ocean surfing could be named an entertainment for wealthy here, just due to the cost of tickets to the closest ocean beach suitable for surfing.