Impact of Playing Golf in Improving Social Capital, Cultural Capital and Economic Opportunities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/dkn4s151Keywords:
Golf participation, social capital, cultural capital, economic opportunity.Abstract
Based on the theories of social capital and cultural capital, this study examines how golf plays the role of a method to enhance personal accumulation of cultural capital while achieving economic opportunities in the Chinese social context. Through a quantitative analysis of 86 questionnaires, the results show that the number of years of golf participation shows a significant improvement in the individual's level of cultural capital, and that economic opportunities can be obtained through bonding and linking social capital; however, the relationship with bridging social capital and the number of times of participation is not significant. It is found that long-term and relatively stable sports participation can enhance trust relationships and access to resources via high-level links, thus forming a positive mechanism of economic benefits and social mobility. This study expands the application boundary of social capital and cultural capital theory, reveals the multi-level logical connotations of the transformation of culture, economy, and society in sports and leisure activities, and provides new empirical evidence and policy implications for studying the social function and economic value of golf and other sports social activities.
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