A recent nationwide survey found that more than 25 million Americans — including some 282,000 Utahns — are preoccupied with the sport of golf and a significant portion of their spouse/partners aren’t really happy about it (Image courtesy of Facebook).
LOGAN – With the change of season fast approaching, Utah golfers will now be spending less time on the links and more time with their families.
Right?
Not necessarily, assuming that they follow the trends revealed in a nationwide survey of golfers and their spouses/partners.
There are an estimated 282,000 Utahns who play golf. According to a recent survey of 3,000 Americans on either theirs’ or their partners’ golfing habits, that could translate to nearly 40,000 Utah spouses/partners feeling neglected.
Those sometimes annoyed “better half’s” describe themselves as “Golf Widows” – or widowers in some cases.
To make matters worse, that may be a conservative estimate. In 2022, the number of golfers in the United States exceeded 25 million, about 7.7 percent of the American population.
But the percentage of Utahns playing golf actually exceeds the national average, coming in at 11 percent of the state’s population.
The survey – conducted by the Casino Association of Montreal, Canada – found that many Americans’ interest in golf goes well beyond the game itself.
Some of them reported that golf has become an opportunity to connect with pals and perhaps enjoy a drink or two afterwards. Golf can also offer the allure of being part of an “exclusive club.”
While players avidly embrace the sport, the words “I’m off to golf” may sound like nails on a chalkboard to many of their spouses and partners.
The Canadian survey asked both U.S. golfers and their spouse/partners how often they play and how long it usually takes to knock off 18 holes.
Interestingly enough, the majority of golfers (40 percent) said they only play “ … a couple times a year.” Another 25 percent said they only get out to the links about “… once a month.”
But that’s not how their significant others see their golf habits.
While 27 percent of them agreed that their spouse/partners only played “… once a month,” more than 20 percent reported that their significant others played golf on a weekly or more often basis, usually for three to four hours.
About 14 percent of spouses/partners reported spending most of their time alone while their golfer indulges in that sport – the textbook definition of a golf widow. On the social media platform TikTok, that term has accumulated a staggering 16 billions views.
So how do golf widows cope?
Some claim to merely suffer in silence, although 32 percent expressed a desire for their partners to be around more often; 21 percent confessed to being mildly annoyed whenever their partner heads to the links; and another 13 percent complained about being frustrated by having additional childcare and other daily tasks thrust upon them by their partners’ absence.
We can only guess how “silent” that 66 percent of spouse/partners’ suffering truly is.
Another 2 percent admitted to harboring a complete hatred for the sport of golf and their suffering may not be silent at all.
An additional 11 percent of spouses and partners have adopted the attitude of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” by learning to play golf themselves.
Finally, the remaining 21 percent of golf widows simply resigned themselves to finding other sources of amusement while their partners are out of the house.
In general, the survey analysts concluded, being a golf widow is a playful term often used in jest.
It’s clear, however, that there is at least a touch of reality behind that term, given the amount of time U.S. golfers invest on the course.
The complete survey can be found at https://www.casino.ca/golf-widows-in-the-us/