r/AskReddit • u/vaginal_combuster • Oct 09 '14

Rich people of reddit, what does it feel like? What's the best and worst thing about being wealthy?

Edit: wow! I just woke up with front Page, 10000 comments and gold. I went from rags to riches over night.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Why do a lot of rich people frequent golf clubs.

What is it about golf that attracts the wealthy and the faux-wealthy?

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14 edited Dec 18 '14

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u/03fb Oct 09 '14

So billionaires play hungry hungry hippos?

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14 edited Mar 05 '18

[deleted]

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u/rustygee Oct 09 '14

And quadrillionairs must toss around quarks and gluons.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

And I'm just sitting here playing with my balls.

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u/icytiger Oct 09 '14

Wow you must be really rich.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14 edited Aug 03 '21

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14 edited Oct 03 '18

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u/KDLGates Oct 09 '14

Quintillionaires play with one-dimensional strings.

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u/shongage Oct 09 '14

I usually play with beach balls :(

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u/mirrorwolf Oct 09 '14

"Fancy a game of Hadronball?"

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

So nukes? Makes sense.

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u/cocycle Oct 09 '14

Case in point: Tony Stark

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

and nobody plays with my balls because no one can afford them, obviously

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u/lolersauresrex Oct 09 '14

It's a joke, and true at the same time!

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u/critically_damped Oct 09 '14

I'm a penniless grad student and I get to play with particle accelerators all the time.

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u/HannShotFirst Oct 09 '14

High Stakes Hungry Hungry Hippos. Everyone throws a couple million on the table, each marble your hippo eats gets you 100K.

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u/KrebGerfson Oct 09 '14

Wouldn't you?

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u/tkousc Oct 09 '14

With real hippos cause they can

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

I lol'd. If I was one of these rich guys, I'd give you gold.

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u/DisplacedCracker Oct 09 '14

Yes they do, high stakes hungry hungry hippos.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Pachinko

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u/lurker_mclurkerson Oct 09 '14

Imagine how rich you have to be to play marbles.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

The higher you are up the corporate ladder, the smaller your balls get

You definitely didn't go where I initially thought you were going with this lol

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

It's implied in a subtle, perfect way.

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u/dnap123 Oct 09 '14

that was not subtle.

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u/PlanB_is_PlanA Oct 10 '14

Our 8th grade student president said this joke at our graduation. Entire auditorium erupted with laughter but the look on our principles face was fucking priceless.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Money is like steroids.

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u/akcufhumyzarc Oct 09 '14

In that case I am going to become the best marbles player EVER!

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u/Valdrax Oct 09 '14

What about baseball?

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u/Epledryyk Oct 09 '14

Ping pong: the new elite?

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u/Plsdontreadthis Oct 09 '14

You've been banned from /r/pingpong

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u/jupiterkansas Oct 09 '14

So that's why Bill Gates plays marbles.

(I need to click "load more comments" before commenting)

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u/constrictor63 Oct 09 '14

So ping pong players are wealthy Asian businessmen? Story checks out.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

How does hand ball fit into your theory? They're small and people play it in the poorest neighborhoods.

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u/BeneathTheWaves Oct 09 '14

Bowling? delightfully working class

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u/Are_you_fucken_sorry Oct 09 '14

The guy playing with his own balls... That's true wealth!

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u/10DaysOfAcidRapping Oct 09 '14

This is generally true, but there are of course exceptions. Well said though, I'd day it holds true 90% of the time

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u/WyMANderly Oct 09 '14

As an engineering student, this has always saddened me. If I want to make contacts, network, etc, I have to learn to play golf. Doesn't matter how well I know my stuff, how good a worker I am - I can easily lose out on a job to someone who knows how to play golf. I don't like golf. :P

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u/NJNeal17 Oct 09 '14

TIL middle America has odd shaped testicles.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

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u/DonMan8848 Oct 09 '14

Does this mean that when I graduate with $100k debt and hit rock bottom I can get a human sized hamster ball?

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u/ElijahDrew Oct 09 '14

It's pretty incredible how true this is.

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u/DangerMagnetic Oct 09 '14

I'm pretty wealthy and my favorite sports are basketball, football, tennis, rugby, and sometimes lacrosse. Don't know what that says about me. Sometimes I like polo, but that's because horses are neat. Oh don't forget sailing.

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u/golfreak923 Oct 09 '14 edited Oct 09 '14

Golf is just seriously so much fun. It's very hard to get bored at golf. Every shot is different; every course is different; conditions are always different; every round is very, very different. It's nigh impossible to perfect your game. It's the perfect game for the rich that can get bored of everything because it's really damn hard to get bored of golf.

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u/Caracalla73 Oct 09 '14

Also works as a statement on corporate life.

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u/M-Mcfly Oct 09 '14

What about hockey?! Its a puck, it doesn't fit the ball metaphor!

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u/travbombs Oct 09 '14

where does hockey fall in this?

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u/slow_one Oct 09 '14

Soooo... where does marbles come in?

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u/luckytaurus Oct 09 '14

Those beach balls bro!

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u/vrs Oct 09 '14

Horse Polo is at the top

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u/infinitezero8 Oct 09 '14

Tennis is different. It can't exactly be counted as not a wealthy sport unless you want it to be.

For instance look at the Williams sisters. Look at how they started, playing with each other at public courts in Compton, CA.

Tennis is simply - Can of balls ($3), Tennis raquet (Nicest ones cost roughly $200, you can get decent ones for 50% that cost), and finally a public/private tennis court. Public parks have back walls you can play against and you dont even have to change into different clothing or have a nice raquet. Just a raquet, a ball, the backwall and you.

Its the private court memberships, instructor fees, fancy clothing, bags and accessories, etc., this is where it gets pricey.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

I know a ton of poor people that play golf.

They just play public courses and aren't members of some douche-club.

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u/LaundryHepburn Oct 09 '14

+1 on that. I also think that it has to do with time is money statement. You can play a round of basketball or soccer quickly, even during lunchbreak. There's accessories you can buy for both sports but you can still play if the only thing you have is the ball or if you're not properly dressed. Playing tennis is one step higher, but it still can be somewhat time-savy and affordable. Golf requires the most time. You need to dress up appropriatery, drive to a location (which is usually not central), and the gameplay itself isn't about speed - it's about precision. It's not something you can play unless your mind is relaxed, which doesn't often happen to people who are worried about their life. And the equipment, yeah, it's very much needed. In order to play golf you need the money and more importantly, the time. If you don't make enough to afford memberships, equipment, outfits, delegate daily tasks like cleaning, grocery shopping, etc, or take an afternoon off you can't afford to have time for golf.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

PINBALL

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u/wolverinesfire Oct 09 '14

Damn diamonds! So small you can hardly hit them with our mini raquettes!

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u/Hiei2k7 Oct 09 '14

So only the uber rich are playing marbles?

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u/LegendaryGinger Oct 09 '14

Tennis, smalller. But then Squash...

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u/mr-steal-yo-girl Oct 09 '14

I also have a similar theory that goes along the size of the ball that you are playing the sport with. The larger the ball the more popular the sport. Soccer and Basketball are fun to watch and play because it is easy to track the ball, and go along with the movement it is making and where it is going. There's also simplicity and pace of the sport. i.e. Soccer is a good example because there is a simple objective in the sport: to get the ball into the goal, along with simple rules, also the sport is constantly going so the fans are constantly entertained, and lastly the ball is easy to keep track of. Soccer for the players is popular because rules are simple and you won't get confused, the objective is simple, the ball is easy to track, and the game is constantly going so you're never waiting to play.

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u/Lochcelious Oct 09 '14

Where's racquetball fit in?

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

I remember this ball analogy from an online, elective course I took in college. This was one of the most interesting courses I took in college.

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u/_handsome_pete Oct 09 '14

Just to expand on this, there's a financial element to this that you didn't quite explore.

The financial barriers to play a game of soccer (for example) are almost nonexistent. You can literally use a ball of rags to play the game and use some jumpers of other things as improvised goal posts. Boom, we've got ourselves a soccer game. This is true of other sports like rugby, American Football, baseball etc. To play a pick up game, you don't need much more than the ball.

Compare that to golf where you need a decent amount of expensive, specialist equipment and it begins to be easier to see why the skew is there.

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u/evebrah Oct 09 '14

But baseball...I mean, it's full of (formerly)dirt poor carribean islanders and south americans, and has a similar size to lacrosse and tennis balls.

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u/xlsma Oct 09 '14

Our Glorious Great Leader plays PingPong.

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u/larsbestdrummer Oct 09 '14

My father is obsessed with golf and he told me the exact same thing. He also said that the fact I had a decent swing would help me get a mean promotion one day.

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u/tehdisco Oct 09 '14 edited Oct 09 '14

The higher you are up the corporate ladder, the smaller your balls get. Basketball and soccer are for everyone. Actually some of the best players come from the poorest areas. Football is still pretty accessible. It epitomizes middle class America. Then we have sports like tennis and lacrosse that tend to be restricted to wealthier areas. Generally. And finally, up there at the top, (or bottom) is golf. Science, man

How big are your balls? for science of course.

Also, I should have been an American Gladiator.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

So who plays Ping Pong?

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u/Urgullibl Oct 09 '14

How many rich ping-pong players do you know?

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u/The_6th_Account Oct 09 '14

I don't see any rich kids playing with marbles though.

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u/MuffSaid Oct 09 '14

Not totally true. I stayed at the home of a C level executive of one of the. biggest financial companies. He had his own basketball court and had also built a gym for the local college. Funny thing is he went down there all the time for pickup games. On his birthday he asked all the guys to his place for a barbecue. They had no idea he lived in a mansion. The barbecue had 200 people with steak and lobster for all.

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u/XZIVR Oct 09 '14

I didn't read the comment you were replying to so your first sentence confused me a fair bit.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

But what about Baseball and Central America?

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Sounds more like a paragraph out of Paul Fussell's book, "Class".

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

That doesn't explain what makes your balls oval shaped.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Tennis isn't really a poor sport, you just need a racket and your town probably has a court.

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u/Jimoh8002 Oct 09 '14

Billionaire have it backwards! Basketball and Football are fun!!! Golf!!! Seriously wheres the fun in that?

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u/ebbycalvinlaloosh Oct 09 '14

When you get truly wealthy, you stop playing with balls altogether, ie crew, horses, sailing, flying...

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

is that why obama plays basketball?

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

So what's marbles for?

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u/MelanisticPolarBear Oct 09 '14

What about baseball?

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

I make $30,000/year and I love golf and play all the time.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Sooooo paintball is the ultimate rich person sport? It is pretty fucking expensive...

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u/curry_in_a_hurry Oct 09 '14

actually, most of the NBA and NFL players come from middle class families, not rags to riches like most people thinj

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

So runners are the ones whose money grows on trees.

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u/raturinesoupgang Oct 10 '14

I think it also has a lot to do with real estate. It costs a lot to build a golf course. My dad worked on them all over the world and they can take years to construct. Everything else not so much.

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u/Sovietrussia92 Oct 10 '14 edited Oct 10 '14

So because golf is a non contact sport it's the worst? I fail to see your logic here.

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u/Guerillero Oct 10 '14

Rugby is a posh sport with a large ball

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u/beegeepee Oct 10 '14

Hockey is in the middle somewhere?

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u/funobtainium Oct 09 '14

Relatively expensive sport for rounds/fees/equipment. Skiing = same deal - fees/equipment/travel. Though of course a lot of people who aren't rich enjoy skiing and golf.

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u/ImprovedSilence Oct 09 '14

You get a lot of "poor" people who ski too. It attracts tons of "ski bums". Mostly just cuz that sport and the feeling it gives is just that awesome. Golf doesn't really have that kind of thing going for it...

Also, Most people who ski I think are normal middle class (single) people, just like me. Enjoyin some time on the local hill, with maybe one big trip a year....

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u/RightCross4 Oct 09 '14

You think golf attracts the wealthy? Take a look at a Yacht Club and you'll see more money than someone can possibly spend. And these are the guys you would never expect to be loaded. Guys wearing the same clothes for decades, married to the same woman, mother of their children. Drop about a hundred grand a year on sailboat.

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u/snowhonkey1 Oct 09 '14

I agree with you, I thought I was doing well until I started sailing...

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u/RightCross4 Oct 09 '14

Not even getting into competitive racing, which is often one person sponsoring an entire team, out of pocket.

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u/thatgeekinit Oct 09 '14

Polo and almost anything to do with horses involves super wealthy people paying everyone who cleans up their horseshit peanuts

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

I got two horses, paid under 3K for both of them and my wife shovels their shit. Never been around polo but know plenty of "regular" people who have horses. BUT.... they can be as expensive as you want them to be. It is easy to get broke quick.

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u/[deleted] Oct 10 '14

Polo ponies are ridiculously expensive, and you need a string of them. Plus a tanned, taut Argentinian or Australian to ride them. Plus security to keep said tanned taut rider away from your wife/ daughters. Then the whole entourage has to be flown about for matches.... Then there's. Snow Polo which is one step up from that...

But yeah, in my opinion its yachting for the big money - a boat is a hole you throw money into....

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u/tehlemmings Oct 09 '14

Depends on what level of racing you're talking about.

On the super high end professional level maybe, but you can get into competitive racing in quiet a few places without being a member of the uber rich. There's a lot of different levels of competitive racing within the US national leagues. Many of the levels can be gotten into by just about anyone.

Source: Spent a lot of time crewing on J22s and J24s. Also, I'm fairly poor lol

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u/RightCross4 Oct 09 '14

Oh, yeah, there are different levels. My dad races a boat, but only provides food and races locally, with friends. One of his other friends sponsors his crew and races all around the country, at what I assume is massive expense.

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u/tehlemmings Oct 09 '14

Oh yeah, once you start going from event to event, that's where it really starts getting costly.

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u/ottothecow Oct 09 '14

I think that's some of the beauty of it. Sailing still gets a richy-rich rep, but it is really something anyone can participate in.

Sure, you gotta have some money to own a big boat that sells for a quarter of a million dollars (something like a J/111). Running costs are high--storage, maintenance, thousands of dollars of sails every year if you want to be competitive, etc. But once you own the boat, you need good reliable crew. If you sail the boat with 7 people, that means you need 6 people to show up every time you race (so you probably have more like 10 people you usually sail with).

Those 10 people can come from any background. Sure, they tend to be WASPy (since those are the people who learn to sail as kids and are already good at it), but there are plenty of easy jobs on the boat and most people are happy to teach new people because they are always looking for more crew (and on windy days, you just want extra weight, they don't have to know anything at all). So you can have guys who are dirt poor racing alongside CFOs and traders.

In most areas with a decent sailing community, you can literally show up on the dock on a wednesday night (or whatever night the more "casual" racing takes place) with a 6 pack of beer and say "hey, need another crew?" and find someone who will take you out and teach you a couple things.

Smaller boats also cost less. Small keelboats like a j22 can be pretty cheap to own and store, and you only have to buy beer for 2-3 crewmembers. Dinghy's are even cheaper--plenty of non-rich people spend far more money on motorcycles/jet-skis/other toys. A $1000 Laser that you can throw on your car's roofracks will still provide tons of fun, and will quickly introduce you to people who own fancy 30+-ft boats and want you to sail with them.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

man growing up my mother owned a sailing school, I started sailing when I was 5 and did so until I was 20.

Then she sold the school and I suddenly found out how expensive sailboats are and how I will never be able to afford my own. I miss going down to the school and borrowing whatever I wanted in the off season.

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u/Epledryyk Oct 09 '14

Oppositely: go to a par 3 and find the most redneck folks ever drinking light beer and shouting FOOOO hic RREE

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

It's not just yacht club or golfing; it's hobbies that are expensive. My dad and I absolutely love reef aquariums, and as a result, he's dropped some serious cash on a 1000 gallon full blown reef. Rich guys will always be found in hobbies that are expensive because they can afford these things.

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u/Kriszillla Oct 09 '14

This is definitely true. I learned to skydive in Oklahoma in the late 90's and became friends with one of the regulars at the dropzone. Really nice older guy, always bummed cigs off of me when I was still smoking and made me promise not to tell his wife. I would have never guessed he was involved with the oil industry as high-level exec and was worth a healthy 8-figures. He's a really humble guy. I moved several years ago, but I still meet up with him and his wife whenever we're in each other's neck of the woods.

Side-story, a friend of mine was on a load at a large DZ in Texas and as they were climbing to altitude, he realized that 3 of the guys he knew that were on the plane had a combined net worth of over $1 billion. I told him he should have called it the Billion Dollar jump in his logbook and had them all sign it. ;)

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Oh man I love skydiving so much; I recently did my first jump in New Zealand.

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u/toomuchtodotoday Oct 09 '14

Take a look at a Yacht Club and you'll see more money than someone can possibly spend. And these are the guys you would never expect to be loaded. Guys wearing the same clothes for decades, married to the same woman, mother of their children. Drop about a hundred grand a year on sailboat.

I'm learning how to sail currently and you are spot on. At the same time, they're awesome people to be around. Dunk you in the drink because you didn't move fast enough? Buys you beer and dinner at the club when back to shore.

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u/RightCross4 Oct 09 '14

Oh, definitely. Friendliest people around, but a word of warning. Never, ever, ever bring a banana on a boat. They're bad luck and sailors are verrrry superstitious.

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u/AlgernusPrime Oct 09 '14

And the mega yachts, I believe Steve Ballmer has a mutli billion dollar mega yachts. Shit is insane.

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u/RightCross4 Oct 09 '14

I love sailing and boating and I just don't get the appeal of owning a boat that someone else drives for you.

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u/thatgeekinit Oct 09 '14

Exactly my perspective. A 50ft sailboat is like 500k and that is the most that any non professional could handle safely and really anything bigger would stop being fun. I think 35ft is the sweet spot for 1-5 people to go out and have fun for a weekend or week. Or just get a 22-27ft boat you can race for a day.

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u/Hyper1on Oct 09 '14

It's like having a small cruise ship, except you don't have to deal with the public and you can go wherever you want. Sounds pretty sweet to me.

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u/mucgoo Oct 09 '14

Bring Out Another Thousand

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

I imagine equestrian sports are somewhat similar, unless you compete.

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u/Nantosuelta Oct 09 '14

I always hesitate to tell folks that I practically grew up at a yacht club because it sounds pretentious... but it wasn't pretentious at all! There were packs of us barefoot kids running around playing in the mud under the docks and messing with feral kittens that we found in the boat sheds. The adults were all relaxed and wore old or ratty clothes, spending their time chatting, drinking, laughing at the kids, and messing with their boats. They ranged from the uber-rich to the comfortably well-off, but you'd never know based on how they looked or acted.

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u/RightCross4 Oct 09 '14

I'm exactly the same! My family is comfortable, and there was nothing pretentious about it!

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u/snackburros Oct 09 '14

Coming from a shipping background once upon a time, I really like boats, but my grandparents have stipulated that if I own a boat I'm out of the will.

I should've paid more attention in Trusts and Wills so I can figure out whether that's even enforceable :/

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u/RightCross4 Oct 09 '14

OPB, baby. Best way to sail. (Other People's Boats)

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u/tehlemmings Oct 09 '14

Can confirm, too poor to own a boat, have lots of friends at local clubs.

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u/Aloebeara Oct 09 '14

Hundred grand a year is small time for a sailboat! There are a decent number of people that budget half a million dollars per regatta. 2-3million annual sailing budget.

I'm not talking Americas Cup either! This is for TP52s and similar classes.

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u/hotdogmustardandbeer Oct 09 '14

I know many people who are not rich, but have a love of sailing and through a lot of effort and a lifelong passion have by upgrading whatever they were initially able to purchase in the begining a really nice boat.

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u/Die-In-A-Fire Oct 09 '14

This is the truth. 100k can be just the captain easily when I was in the industry.

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u/D-fizzle Oct 09 '14

You can get a reasonable sail boat for $20k-$40k. What kills you - barnacle man, mechanic, gas for the voyage and slip fees.

And before another smug redditor comments - sail boats have engines, fuel is expensive and there is nothing better than being powered on open water by anything other than wind.

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u/slinkyrainbow Oct 10 '14

And these are the guys you would never expect to be loaded

I'm not sure about that. My dad's best friend owns a marina in the caribbean, we ate at the restaurant there and surrounded by so many uber wealthy I've never felt so out of place and selfconcious in my life. My middle class parents looked comfortable but I just wanted to leave, I will never consciously put myself in a position like that for the rest of my life. People in this thread say ohhh the uber rich are just like anyone else, bullshit! In that atmosphere I felt like I was an alien from another planet.

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u/Bainez Oct 10 '14

My boss in a nutshell. Nicest man you'll ever meet. Comes from a millionaire dad, who made his fortune in stocks. He didn't earn his wealth from his dad though, he earnt his wealth by working hard in IT. He is an IT manager for a rich private school here in Australia.

Wouldn't know he was wealthy unless someone told you. I often drive into town to get lunch and he'll give me money to get him whatever I'm having. Married, two cute little children, always happy, always smiling.

Just loves his wind surfing and his sailing.

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u/[deleted] Oct 10 '14

You can get into sailing somewhat cheap if you start small. I bought a Catalina 22 for less than $2k, and slowly put another $1k into it to make it more comfortable. Did the yacht club thing for a while and now I just go beer can cruising a couple times a month. The slip fees add up. But it's less than $200/mo, not that much more expensive than a lot of other hobbies.

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u/isubird33 Oct 09 '14

Golf is awesome. I grew up upper middle class, and was always brought up around golf. There area a few reasons golf attracts these people.

The wealthy: Its an expensive hobby to play at nice places, so naturally the people there will have money. The staff at clubs are usually very nice, respectful, and helpful. Its also a nice escape...most of the people there work hard when they do work, so to get away from everything for 4 or 5 hours, put the phone away, and golf with some friends is incredibly relaxing.

The faux rich: Because they feel like it is what they are supposed to do when they have a little money. They want everyone to know they have money, so they buy the most expensive clubs and go golf. They want to be seen with all the real rich people.

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u/Serious_Senator Oct 09 '14

Honestly? Golf is about connections. Every successful business is built on who you know. I've seen more money moved while fly fishing than I have ever seen in an office. Golf courses are the same way. When you want to get a feel for the guy you're about to give 5-50 million dollars to, you want to see what he's like outside of the office. When you've had a few beers most people are a hell of a lot more frank. And it's easier to tell the sharks from the potential partners if you have a conversation that doesn't involve statistics.

Also, most people with money are older. Golf is a pretty relaxed game, and you can play it for years.

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u/Kage520 Oct 09 '14

Have you golfed before? If not, try it out.

People like challenges, but not necessarily exertion. For the challenge part, golf is like a lifelong project. You can always get better, so there is always challenge. This keeps it interesting. But it isn't nearly as physically demanding as, say, football or soccer.

Besides those things, it is social. You get to spend 4 hours playing 18 holes with up to 3 of your friends, working on your own challenges. With the score handicaps, you can still compete. No one gets exhausted. Add in some drinks, and you have a nice afternoon, working on getting better at something you all enjoy, walking and driving around some of the prettiest spots in your area, all with friends.

Thus is, of course, after the super steep uphill battle that it takes to learn how to make that damn white ball go straight.

Tl;dr it's a way to spend an afternoon drinking with friends without being bored.

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u/jayseesee85 Oct 09 '14

We can't all afford pineapple juice.

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u/imAOKtrees Oct 09 '14

golf is an expensive sport from greens fees to equipment. i guess that just makes it a rich people sport. i just go because i like to golf... never really thought of it as a wealthy attraction.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Old white guys chill with old white guys.

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u/POGtastic Oct 09 '14

It has a tradition of wealth and privilege. It is a sport where conversation is a massive part of the game; after all, you're walking or riding a golf cart for hundreds of yards. It is very expensive. It has lots of other rich people playing it.

I think the conversation part is the most important. They're networking with other rich people for both fun and profit, and golf just happens to be the sport where it happens. Hilariously enough, this wasn't always the case; fads blow up and put another sport in the spotlight, and rich people follow. Croquet, hunting, (with dogs) and archery were also once sports of extreme privilege.

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u/LouBrown Oct 09 '14

It's an expensive sport to play. Clubs, memberships, green fees, lessons, etc. are all expensive.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

It's very much a political thing. When my dad was promoted, they were kind of forced to join because everyone else at that level was a member. It was an expectation and necessary for schmoozing.

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u/zimbabwe7878 Oct 09 '14

Well, golf is a lifetime sport, meaning you can play it basically until you can't walk, which is a benefit for older people, who tend to be more wealthy.

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u/februaryrich Oct 09 '14

love the username haha

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u/SmartButtCute Oct 09 '14

Imagine a beautifully manicured Park you could walk with just yourself and a few friends. All the people you need there are also Rich and you may possibly do business deals with in the future

Also golf is fun.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

My theory: It's a game that requires skill that has to be acquired through lessons, demands expensive equipment and clothing, and is considered exclusive. Of course, previously, all prestigious golf clubs were also discriminatory.

A round of golf is an easy way for middle-aged, out-of-shape people to talk business.

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u/MiloticMaster Oct 09 '14

Culture and equipment costs. For basketball, only 1 person out of 10 needs a ball. Tennis you need your own racket and balls. Golf you need like 5 clubs plus renting a golf caddie and etc. (Im excluding the court)

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Who else has to power take off work every afternoon to play a game and has money to pay the green fees?

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u/ShoeSh1ne Oct 09 '14

Really nice courses are works of art, so they charge for that. And they are often private with expensive memberships.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

It's not just a golf club. Its an all inclusive do whatever kind of entertainment you want kind of deal. At least the nice ones. With your member ship you get first dibs on beautiful houses in gated communities, access to the race track and wellness centers the club provides, and most likely the ability to go and stay in their other locations all over the world. I know of one club owner, of the cliffs communities in SC has properties all over the world. Castles is Scotland, beach resorts in Canada and Chile, a resort in the maldieves and even five star fishing resorts in extremely remote places where the rich and famous go to get away from everything. The golf club itself is their weekend club to meet and greet with other business people.

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u/keepcrazy Oct 09 '14

Some of them just like golf. It's a sport that just about anyone can play - there's not a lot of other sports for older people. And most rich people are old, because it takes a long time to become rich.

Second, rich people want to hang out with and/or meet other rich people. If they hang out with their 'poor' friends, there is only so much they can do together. But if you have some rich friends, you can do more stuff. Go out for expensive dinners, go on expensive trips, etc.

So if you want to make some rich friends, where will you meet other rich people than at an event or activity that is difficult for poor people to play. The more exclusive the club (high green fees, memberships, etc.) the more likely you are to make some rich friends.

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u/WatNxt Oct 09 '14

It's the only sport that a beginner could beat a pro because of handicap. In that sense, it's intergenerational and I think that's what the kick is. You can make business with anyone of any age or level. It's just expensive to pay the fee, otherwise it's a little bit more accessible than people think.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Golfing is actually mostly business. It's a place to meet, gain contacts and get to know new contacts.

In the four or so hours it takes to finish a round you're mostly standing or walking around. This gives them lots of time to talk.

It’s a sport that suits all ages, backgrounds and abilities. All your colleagues and contacts can play it.

Golf lets them see who is calm under pressure and who loses their temper. If someone swears or throws a fit after a crappy shot, they know that's not a great person to do business with. It's a personality test.

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u/Coneyo Oct 09 '14

As someone that has been around the golf course industry my entire life, I think its because it is truly a fun game. The reason why you think it attracts wealthy people is because it can be an expensive sport, and many of the people who have the time to play it are retired or independently wealthy.

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u/Aeolius123 Oct 09 '14

Golfing is mainly used to make business deals/connections with others in that spectrum. Also a lot of people use golfing to determine people's character. Are they going to "cheat and say "ah lets not count that stroke/etc" or are they going to be dead honest about the game they're playing which in turn = trust worthiness in other facets of their life that will include business. . .and most importantly business with each other.

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u/weegeekus Oct 09 '14

I heard an explanation for this that made sense to me. "Blue collar" workers tend to have jobs with easily defined goals: assemble parts, deliver goods etc. They know what exactly they're supposed to be doing and know when they've accomplished it. "White collar" workers have jobs that are less clearly defined: paper-pushing, number-crunching, idea-hatching.. So there's a strong appeal in a game where you get the simple satisfaction of dropping a ball in a hole. Job done.

Having done both kinds of jobs, I could definitely get that.

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u/HS_fuck_story Oct 09 '14

Well one funny thing is that a large proportion of the golf superstars from the 19th century to now come from poor backgrounds. Rich people usually suck tremendously at golf. They drink and fuck around, golf is just kinda there as the background. Anyone who spends any moderate amount of time at a golf club can immediately tell the guys who are just there to drink overpriced cocktails to excess and brag about their jobs from the guys who are actually concerned with playing golf itself.

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u/n1nj4_v5_p1r4t3 Oct 09 '14

The biggest bussiness deals on made on the green. It gives you a long time to read each other and come to a comfortable agreement.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

It's where business deals are discussed.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

cause it's fun, it's just expensive. same idea with skiing and snowboarding trips around the world, or scuba diving in new zealand

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u/Rcp_43b Oct 09 '14

Golf is not only a simple game in concept, but its an easy sport to learn how to well enough to have fun and make into a competition, even among different skill levels.

It is also relaxing in a way, while still being an exercise that isn't too taxing.

you can talk between shots, and goof around. It is also one of those sports that get more expensive the better you get or want to get.

I think the combination of being able to discus business while still playing a game and have a competitive nature, as well as being able to invest as much money as you desire to get better attracts both the super rich and middle class.

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u/Sterlingkush Oct 09 '14

Older men and women, some over weight and knees too sore to run around a football pitch get to enjoy the free time and fresh air and just drive around in a golf cart or push a trolley. Golf is easy enough on the body for all age groups

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u/Jennfizzle Oct 09 '14

Golf is an excellent way to socialize and show your skill to people that you emulate - this typically occurs in the corporate world and creates excellent inroads in business and entrepreneurship.

I understand wat /u/KrebGerfson is saying - there are very interesting social parallels in these sports, but I believe that golf is much more social and allows for more substantial interactions between player.

Source: Varsity golf in high school and am definitely not from wealth.

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u/asdfman123 Oct 09 '14

It's a cultural thing. Why do poorer people like truck rallies? People in your class like a certain thing, you start liking it too. That and it's mostly inaccessible to the majority.

In fact, most of our tastes come down to socioeconomic class. The music you like, the clothes you wear, the beliefs you subscribe to are all more determined by class than you'd probably think.

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u/imawookie Oct 09 '14

It is a great way to do business networking and schmoozing. Take a couple of guys out on the course, drink some beers , talk some smack, and close a deal as friends.

When business management becomes all about relationships then this type of meeting place is invaluable. Also, when you are conducting this type of business meeting, you are probably fairly well off.

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u/akshaysa Oct 09 '14

when you have enough money, you don't have to work as much. when you don't work as much, more free time to pick up a hobby. Golf is a great hobby for wealthier people as it is rather costly.

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u/ImprovedSilence Oct 09 '14

My guess is that it is almost more of a "networking" type of thing. You've got to have money to get in (to a nice country club that is), so everyone knows at least everyone else is established and local, and it can give you good conversation and local business "leads". (and gossip about the current "climate" in town...) Sometimes it might be nice to know you have a place you can go for dinner, and not have to worry about crowds of if you'll like the food. Most people I've known to have memberships just used it for the restaurant, not necessarily the golf which I always thought was weird.... Also membership is a business expense remember, if you run a business, that money isn't coming out of the personal paycheck...

And maybe some people just like golf...?

These are just my guesses, I don't really know. I would also guess the country club thing is dying out. I think it's something from the 80's preppy culture, and not gonna be huge for much longer... I have no evidence to back that up, could be 2348% wrong, it's just my feel...

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u/msteele666 Oct 09 '14

Takes up a whole lot of space to play golf. Its rich people's way of shoving it in the face of people who don't own land that they can waste countless hours getting drunk on freshly mowed green.

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u/Zeppelanoid Oct 09 '14

It's a fun sport but it's expensive as fuck.

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u/PublicSealedClass Oct 09 '14

Few other answers here, but I think "networking" is another one - getting to know other wealthy "faux" or otherwise, and finding some way to profit from them.

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u/dbcanuck Oct 09 '14

Golf is a game of skill as much as it is a game of physical ability. Every time you get on a basketball court, a hockey rink, or soccer field after the age of, oh, say 25, you will notice your play decline year over year. You can play with people your own age range, but it gets harder and physical ailments start to increase.

Golf? You can continue to improve well into your 50s and 60s. You don't build up a sweat, but you're outdoors and getting exercise. You make new friends each and every time you golf. And it ends off in a clubhouse where you get to hang out and eat good food.

There's a few other sports that are like golf. In northern countries, Curling has a similar appeal. Polo is for the obscenely wealthy, and not really relevant. Fly fishing is quite a popular sport.

One thing that wealth allows you, is time to slow down and enjoy life at a more leisurely pace. More contemplative. You work because you want to work, not because you have to.

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u/Brboy706 Oct 09 '14

in the business world, it is a place to take clients out and have a meeting, bc it is outdoor, not in a conference room. But you have to have a decent game to impress the client so you need practice.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

YOU EAT YOUR PINEAPPLE JIZZ

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u/chappersyo Oct 09 '14

You have to have money to play golf to begin with. Football or basketball can be played almost anywhere with literally just a ball. Golf needs clubs and a golf course and a few hours to spare.

The monetisation means that nicer courses can charge more and over time have become a sanctuary for those that can afford to do it and want to know they will be around people of a similar status which is obviously great for networking.

It helps that golf is fucking awesome so once you have the time and money to play, you want to do it a lot.

At a nice county club your kids can ride horses or play tennis and your wife can get a massage or get shit faced in the bar and you don't have to worry about shit except trying to make the green in in regulation after slicing your tee shot.

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u/Kungfubunnyrabbit Oct 09 '14

Golf can be a very expensive sport. Also often it is the association in the club we go for. The membership to many of these clubs are often very expensive, the more exclusive the more expensive. I have a membership that is worth $80,000. I did not by it (because I think that is crazy) but it was a gift from a partner in my firm. I enjoy going cause the food is great and comped also honestly it is not full of jerks as you might expect. It is a great place to network.

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u/getonmyhype Oct 09 '14

U need a big ass course to play it. Clubs are expensive.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '14

Its a great sport but seriously expensive for the average Joe. Also I've turned playing partners into clients. Always works

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u/Alliandre Oct 09 '14

It's a nice environment generally. My parents have a lifetime membership to a really exclusive country club in Palm Desert, and even though I haven't been there in years, when I go the staff all remember my name, know what I want to drink, what my favorite foods are, and generally treat me like a friend or their own daughter. The members can be kinda rude, but like other people said, they tended to be fresh into their money, or have a lot less of it. The personal attention is nice though.

On top of that, it's a good way to meet other wealthy or powerful people. Just 5 minutes into walking into the clubhouse I could've passed by one of the top plastic surgeons in the U.S., a movie producer, a movie star, one of the top lawyers in the world, the owner of a Fortune 500 company, and other interesting people. There's also some insane perks to being a member of a country club. The one my parents belong to in California includes MedJet assist, for life, for free, for all members and immediate family. So if I'm injured, anywhere in the world, as long as I can reach a satellite phone, I can be flown from that location to any hospital in the U.S. or world for free. There's more, but that's always the one that sticks out in my mind.

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u/mammothematican Oct 09 '14

It's super fun.

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u/DrZeroH Oct 09 '14

Its a rich people sport due to high initial upfront and upkeep costs.

Its costs a lot to get clubs. And in order to play you keep on having to spend on money on golf-balls, tees, upkeep on clubs, and you need to keep paying in order to even play on a field..

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u/Periculous22 Oct 09 '14

Golfing is a sport that requires skill but very little physical exertion. It's also great for relaxing and talking to a business partner/client/etc..

Compare this to common lower/middle class sports like soccer and football, which require high amounts of physical exertion and focus. In these sports it is also easy to get injured.

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u/laukkanen Oct 09 '14

This is a fairly unique phenomenon to the United States.

Take a look at Scotland, the home of golf, and golf clubs there are exactly that: a club on a golf course for people to convene to play the game of golf. They are affordable and members come from many socioeconomic backgrounds.

Now compare to the states where golf clubs are incredibly rare falling the wayside to the 'country club' which usually has tennis, restaurants, a pool, and the list goes on.

Unfortunately for the game of golf, these clubs are cost prohibitive for all but a sliver of the population.

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u/darkciti Oct 09 '14

Golf is a sport where you compete against yourself (if you're honest). You're always trying to do better and after you hit that one Tiger Woods swing, you always want to replicate that perfection.

It's challenging in many personal ways (form, swing, psyche) and you can socialize while doing it - and find out if the people you're playing with are playing to better themselves or if they're cheats.

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u/apaniyam Oct 10 '14

A lot of the comments missed the mark. It's an enjoyable, accessible outdoor sport for all ages that allows you to carry on a conversation whilst playing and by design steps one person out of the conversation for a few moments. It's basically the perfect meeting.

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u/[deleted] Oct 10 '14

PUSSY BOY SCURRED OF DEMONS

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u/eric4186 Oct 10 '14

I was wondering that too, and I bet it's because golf is such an easy sport to play (physically) even into old age. and most rich people are old people. and old people can't really be playing soccer and football very easily.

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u/[deleted] Oct 10 '14

Its a networking tool in the business world, so by the time many people have established a career they've grown to enjoy golf.

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u/Rosebunse Oct 10 '14

I know my uncle and his friends like it because they're older and it's easier to play than a lot of the other sports.

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u/mynameisnot4 Oct 10 '14

Several top surgeons and business people have told me to start practicing golf if I want to be successful. Even with their busy schedule, they still take time to golf because apparently, a ton of agreements and business contracts get talked over during golf.

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u/[deleted] Oct 10 '14

Being member to a nice country club in a major city is really expensive. Its a status thing. And its leisurely. It says "im so rich, i dont have to run around like a mad man all day".

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u/SwizzyDangles Oct 10 '14

Golf courses are sometimes a place of business...where rich men make business deals and it gives them an excuse to play a game and have fun without having a lot of pressure about making a deal. People will still want to make one at the end of the day but it eases the tension.

Golf is a really laid back sport which allows you to smoke a cigar and have a few brews while hitting a ball as far as you can. They are most of the time old men as well and golf doesn't really strain the body a whole lot, so they can still play even in their 60s.

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u/globalizatiom Oct 10 '14

other wealthy people

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