Golf clapping comes from the etiquette of golf tournaments, where spectators applaud good shots with soft, restrained claps instead of loud cheering so players can concentrate. Online, that restrained sound became a handy reaction clip, used to applaud something ironically or to mark a deliberately low-key achievement. Its short length makes it easy to drop into edits, streams and short videos, and its meaning shifts with context, from sincere praise to dry sarcasm. That flexibility is why it remains a popular soundboard choice.