Apparently, Australia is in the midst of a ‘man drought’. That’s not true, if you happened to attend LIV Golf Adelaide
Ladies, I have found where all the men are hiding – it’s at LIV Golf!
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia has been in a ‘man drought’ since 2012, with females now outweighing males in every state and territory except Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Luckily for me, I was the winner of Australian Golf Digest’s Ripper GC competition, winning flights, accommodation and a three-day hospitality pass to LIV Golf, played at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide in February.
Along with 100,000-plus spectators, I attended the Australian leg of the international sporting sensation that is LIV Golf, a relatively new concept that turns the traditional game of golf on its head by pumping up the music (and the drinks) during three rounds of 18-holes across three days.
No longer is golf considered to only be played by retired, white, ageing men. This is a spectator sport for everyone! Imagine coming into an outdoor arena to watch talented, well-dressed, world-class male athletes showcasing their skills and having fun, while remaining calm under pressure. Golf. Just. Got. Sexy.
Sure, I’d heard of Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert before. These talented Australian golfers already have the next generation buzzing with their iconic looks and charm, but in Adelaide I was introduced to the international field. Ladies, if you are not familiar with these names, I strongly urge you to Google ‘Bryson DeChambeau’ and ‘Brooks Koepka’. You’re welcome.
For three consecutive days the crowd was upbeat, high-energy and ready for a party. Male spectators outnumbered female spectators 9-to-1.
As a ‘heads up’, the music doesn’t stop for any play. The golfers continue to play on amid the noise, the banter, the cheers and the roars. Dancing is optional, however if you weren’t feeling the beats, you would have been in the minority.
Looking around the course, the Australian ‘shoey’ is a common occurrence among the crowd settled in for a great day.
Another bonus at LIV Golf was the queue for the female toilets – there were none! Unlike Melbourne Cup carnivals where the female line to go to the loo is horrendously long, that didn’t exist at LIV Golf. Our male counterparts now know what it is like to experience the ridiculous amount of time wasted at any event lining up for the lavatory.
Getting back to the man drought, with the male-to-female ratio being more men than women, everywhere my travelling companion and I went, male golf fanatics were only too happy to share their love and passion for the LIV style of golf. Seeing friendly males in great spirits, genuinely having the best day of their lives, was infectious. It’s a great place to meet new friends and golf partners.
While not all fellow male spectators showed etiquette or chivalry, some were only too happy to give up their seat or offer some words of golf wisdom – even showing us photos of their children!
Ladies, if you’re looking to find where all the good men have gone, I would strongly suggest booking tickets to LIV Golf Adelaide in 2026.
Photographs: mark brake/getty images