News Summary

• Golf's old guard complains that novices aren't tuned into the game's rules and etiquette.
• It's prompted a "Shrink the Game" backlash among some online traditionalists.
• Newcomers contend that many of the gripes are little more than elitist gatekeeping that has long defined the sport.
• Nearly 50 million Americans will hit a golf ball in 2025, up 41% from 2019, according to the National Golf Foundation, and golf reached 136 million Americans in some way, shape, or form in 2025.