Twitter Goes Wild After Gym CEO Labels Golf 'A Rich People's Sport'

Humphrey Cobbold attacked golf and tennis in his plea to open gyms as soon as possible...needless to say it didn't go down well with golfers

Gym CEO Labels Golf 'A Rich People's Sport'
(Image credit: getty images/twitter)

PureGym CEO Humphrey Cobbold attacked golf and tennis in his plea to open gyms as soon as possible...needless to say it didn't go down well with golfers

Twitter Goes Wild After Gym CEO Labels Golf 'A Rich People's Sport'

Yesterday was a big day for golf in England after the sport's return was confirmed for 29th March in the government's first phase of re-opening the country post-lockdown.

Whilst that date might not have appeased many in the golf world for being too late, some may think that golf is opening too soon compared to other things.

One industry that is desperate to re-open is the health and fitness sector, and it will be re-opening, according to the government's plan, on 12th April.

This decision clearly didn't go down well with PureGym CEO Humphrey Cobbold, who attacked golf and tennis in his call for gyms to re-open sooner.

"It's all very well to hear that tennis and golf will be reopening at the end of the month, but let's be honest, those are rich people's sports," the gym owner told Sky News.

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Needless to say, these comments did not go down well with the golfing population.

Golf has long been trying to rid itself of the outdated and innacurate generalisation that it is for the upper classes.

The game is more accessible than ever and offers up wonderful mental and physical health benefits in a safe environment for all ages, genders and races.

Perhaps it is this outdated stereotype that has brought the game to a hault during these lockdowns.

Here's how Twitter reacted to the Pure Gym CEO's comment:

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV