Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the facilitators and constraints of screen golf participation, a virtual reality (VR)-based sport, and to provide foundational data for VR sports participation research.
Method: A mixed-method approach was applied, consisting of a literature review, focus group interviews, and surveys. First, a literature review of 11 prior studies was conducted to classify and identify the the facilitators and constraints of screen golf participation. Next, focus group interviews with six golf industry professionals were used to refine and structure the factors and items identified in the literature review. Finally, two rounds of surveys targeting adults who participate in screen golf were conducted to validate the reliability and validity of the developed factors and items. Data processing and analysis for the surveys were performed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 21.0 to conduct confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and reliability analysis.
Results: The final facilitators of screen golf participation were categorized into eight factors (intrinsic, interpersonal, structural factors such as weather, time, cost, and convenience, eco-friendliness, and VR) with 31 items, while the constraints were categorized into six factors (intrinsic, interpersonal, structural factors such as time, cost, and convenience, and VR) with 25 items.
Conclusion: From an academic perspective, this study is significant as it expands the scope of existing research by considering various perspectives and variables related to the technological and environmental characteristics of VR sports, which are emerging as a new type of sport. Additionally, from a practical standpoint, the study identifies the need for strategies to enhance user engagement and sustained participation through technological advancements and improved user experiences in VR sports. This study provides valuable insights for sports marketing and operational strategies.