There was a time when celebrity golf culture mostly meant Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Ray Romano and a few annual Tahoe appearances.
That’s changed dramatically.
Over the last five years especially, golf has become part of mainstream athlete culture in a way we really have not seen before. The modern crossover is different now. These are not retired athletes casually showing up at pro-ams once or twice a year. Many of today’s biggest stars are genuinely diving into the game, posting practice clips, appearing in YouTube golf content, competing in celebrity events and openly becoming obsessed with improving.
And perhaps most importantly, younger fans are seeing it.
That matters.
Steph Curry tees off during the American Century Championship at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course© JASON BEAN/RGJ via Imagn Content Services, LLC
LeBron James and Bronny Represent a Major Shift
The recent golf interest from LeBron James and Bronny James may be one of the clearest examples yet of golf’s evolving cultural reach.
LeBron has posted golf swings and range sessions more frequently lately, even jokingly targeting comedian and golf fanatic Kevin Hart in social media banter.
Meanwhile, Bronny’s appearance in golf creator content, including with YouTube star Grant Horvat, felt significant for younger audiences. Golf suddenly looked less country-club and more culturally connected to mainstream sports and entertainment.
That is a massive difference from even 10 years ago.
Younger NBA players openly embracing golf used to feel rare outside of Steph Curry. Now it feels increasingly normal.
Steph Curry Opened the Door
No modern athlete has done more to legitimize golf among active superstar athletes than Stephen Curry.
Curry did not just casually take up golf. He became legitimately good. Scratch-level good. Celebrity tournament contender good.
More importantly, he made golf feel cool to younger basketball fans.
That influence helped create space for others to jump in publicly without golf feeling disconnected from their identity or culture.
Now you see names like:
all becoming increasingly visible in golf culture.
The Kelce brothers especially represent a new kind of golf personality. Their involvement feels authentic, competitive and relatable. They are not polished country-club golfers. They feel like athletes who caught the golf bug hard and openly enjoy the chaos and obsession that comes with it.
That resonates with people.
Kevin Hart Might Be Golf’s Most Important Celebrity Ambassador
You could argue that Kevin Hart has quietly become one of golf’s most influential celebrity personalities.
He is everywhere around the game right now:
Bryson DeChambeau crossover content
trash talk with other celebrities
More importantly, Hart brings entertainment energy into golf spaces that historically took themselves far too seriously.
That accessibility matters for growing the game.
Kevin Hart talks during the Par 3 Contest at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.Grace Smith-Imagn Images
WWE and Golf Actually Make Perfect Sense
As a longtime wrestling fan, this part honestly fascinates me.
Several WWE personalities have become genuinely invested in golf over the last several years, and when you think about it, the connection makes complete sense.
Wrestlers understand:
Golf scratches many of the same psychological itches while being far less physically punishing.
Mike Mizanin is probably the most visible current WWE golf personality. He has become deeply involved in celebrity golf culture and clearly takes the game seriously.
But he is far from alone.
Baron Corbin has quietly become one of the more serious golfers in wrestling circles, frequently posting golf content and playing regularly.
Other WWE names tied to golf include:
That crossover audience is real, and golf benefits from it.
This Is Bigger Than Celebrity Golf
This is really about golf becoming part of broader sports and entertainment culture.
That did not used to be true.
Now golf intersects with:
wellness and lifestyle branding
Golf no longer feels isolated from mainstream culture.
It is inside it now.
And whether it is LeBron working on his swing, Bronny appearing in creator golf content, the Kelce brothers diving headfirst into golf obsession or WWE stars grinding on the range between appearances, the game is reaching audiences it struggled to connect with for decades.
That is not just a trend.
It is a cultural shift.
PGA of America Golf Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer who serves as Athlon Sports Senior Golf Writer. Read his recent “The Starter” on R.org, where he is their Lead Golf Writer. To stay updated on all of his latest work, sign up for his newsletter or visit his MuckRack Profile.
Related: Why the Masters Par 3 Contest Still Feels Like Golf at Its Best
Related: Why Bob Does Sports and LeBron James Felt Like a Win for All of Golf
Related: Golf Has Never Been Cooler: How the Sport Conquered Pop Culture
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Golf section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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