TopGolf was mislead by a strategy, focussing on the "youth", but the Youth will never spend 10 USD for a virtual "sleeve", nor will they play this for longer than 3 months. I have kids myself, aged 25 and 11. WGT made so many mistakes, ruining a once perfect game experience. I had my fun here, made some good friends. But the "fun" is over.
I really don't get the statagy either, £40-£50 for a driver and the same for a putter, do they really think that the young gamers will pay that? As you suggest they'll play it for a while and see that they need to spend serious money or play with a disadvantage and find something else to play.
But with apparels, that add on distance. Well, I am a real golfer, but wearing a Tailor-made cap never added any distance to me... :-)
I fear the magic clothing will only become more ridiculous, we've going to see the likes of the "cloak of invincibilty" (can only be used two holes a round but you can't lose a mp hole while wearing it) the "lender wand" (a driver that knocks 20yds off your opponents drives and puts them onto yours) and the resserection ball that survives going in a bit of grass or getting wet (very expensive though).
It may be that affecting oppenents shots negatively is the way wgt need to go at some point, when more than half of par 4's are driveable perhaps, They could sell hook and slice apparal that, when applied (and it would be a decision at the start of each hole), makes your opponents shot go 10yds left or right of where it would have landed, you could of course anticipate hook being applied and aim accordingly but that would risk being 20yds off line. Sounds like a great moneyspinner when you add the lost balls (or investment in resserection balls) to the cost of this stuff.
Yes it's just me being daft, but then I'm told it's all about the numbers and nothing to do with golf so maybe I'm just exaggerating....a litlle :-)).
Good luck Kyle and have fun :-))