While a casual round might feel like an escape, the golf industry is a booming economic juggernaut, generating over $84 billion annually in the U.S. alone and captivating a diverse, growing global audience of 60 million participants.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. golf industry generated $84.3 billion in total economic output from on-course golf in 2021
- Global golf equipment market size reached $7.89 billion in 2022
- U.S. golf-related retail sales totaled $5.2 billion in 2023
- 25 million Americans played on-course golf at least once in 2023
- U.S. golf participation reached 28.1 million players in 2023
- Junior golf participation in U.S. up 42% since 2019 to 3.5 million in 2023
- U.S. golf equipment sales reached $3.2 billion in 2023
- Global golf clubs market $4.5 billion in 2023
- U.S. golf ball sales 50 million dozen in 2023
- U.S. has 15,932 golf courses as of 2023
- Public golf courses represent 73% of U.S. total in 2023
- Average U.S. golf course size 150 acres in 2023
- U.S. golf industry participation growth 36% since 2019 bottom
- Global golf market CAGR 4.5% projected to 2030
- U.S. rounds played projected 600 million by 2025
The golf industry is thriving globally, fueled by economic growth and increased participation.
Equipment Sales and Trends
- U.S. golf equipment sales reached $3.2 billion in 2023
- Global golf clubs market $4.5 billion in 2023
- U.S. golf ball sales 50 million dozen in 2023
- Premium golf club sets average price $1,200 in 2023
- Direct-to-consumer golf gear sales up 35% to $800 million U.S. 2023
- Women's golf equipment sales grew 18% to $650 million U.S. 2023
- Used golf equipment market $1.1 billion U.S. 2023
- Golf footwear market $900 million globally 2023
- Custom-fitted clubs 25% of U.S. sales in 2023
- Golf GPS devices sold 2.5 million units 2023
- Rangefinder sales 1.8 million globally 2023
- Junior golf equipment $250 million U.S. 2023
- E-commerce golf sales 42% of total U.S. market 2023
- Driver club sales average 15 million units/year U.S.
- Golf bags market $450 million 2023
- Sustainable golf gear sales up 22% to $300 million 2023
- Simulator hardware sales $500 million 2023
- Putters sales 8 million units U.S. 2023
- Golf gloves market $200 million globally 2023
- Irons sets average sales 10 million/year U.S.
- Tech-integrated clubs 12% market share 2023
- Travel golf bags $150 million sales 2023
- Hybrid clubs outsold fairway woods 2:1 in 2023 U.S.
- Golf apparel e-sales $1.2 billion U.S. 2023
- Wedge sales 6 million U.S. 2023
- Golf trolley market $350 million 2023
- Performance shafts 40% of driver sales 2023
Equipment Sales and Trends Interpretation
Despite the ancient soul of the game, today's golfer is clearly a modern consumer, driving a multi-billion dollar tech-infused and convenience-focused industry where buying a new driver is as meticulously researched as a stock portfolio.
Golf Courses and Facilities
- U.S. has 15,932 golf courses as of 2023
- Public golf courses represent 73% of U.S. total in 2023
- Average U.S. golf course size 150 acres in 2023
- 5,817 private golf courses in U.S. 2023
- Resort golf courses 2,500 in U.S. 2023
- Global golf courses total 38,864 in 2023
- U.S. daily-fee courses average green fees $60 in 2023
- 9-hole courses 3,200 in U.S. 2023
- Municipal courses 2,900 U.S. 2023
- Top 100 U.S. courses average maintenance cost $1.5M/year
- UK golf clubs 2,700 facilities 2023
- Japan 2,200 golf courses 2023
- Australia 1,600 courses 2023
- Canada 2,300 golf courses 2023
- Average rounds per U.S. course 28,000/year 2023
- Par-72 courses 60% of U.S. total 2023
- Water usage average 200,000 gallons/day per U.S. course
- New course openings 50 in U.S. 2023
- Course closures 100 in U.S. 2023
- Executive courses 900 U.S. 2023
- Semi-private courses 2,200 U.S. 2023
- Average clubhouse size 15,000 sq ft U.S. courses
- Irrigation systems cover 80% fairways U.S. 2023
- Par-3 courses 500 U.S. 2023
- Topgolf venues 90 in U.S. 2023
- Driving ranges standalone 5,000 U.S. 2023
- Sustainable certified courses 1,500 U.S. 2023
- Average cart fleet 50 per U.S. course 2023
- Bunkers average 60 per U.S. course 2023
Golf Courses and Facilities Interpretation
Despite claiming 73% of its 15,932 courses are public, the American golf landscape is a sprawling, thirsty, and expensive paradox where we build 15,000-square-foot clubhouses for 9-hole rounds, lose two classic courses for every new one that opens, and spend $1.5 million a year to manicure a playground that drinks 200,000 gallons of water daily while still wondering why the average green fee is sixty bucks.
Industry Growth and Future Projections
- U.S. golf industry participation growth 36% since 2019 bottom
- Global golf market CAGR 4.5% projected to 2030
- U.S. rounds played projected 600 million by 2025
- Women's golf growth 50% by 2028 forecast
- Junior golfers projected 5 million U.S. by 2026
- Off-course venues to double to 1,000 by 2028 U.S.
- Golf tourism CAGR 7.2% to $35 billion by 2030
- Simulator market growth 15% CAGR to 2030
- DTC equipment sales to hit $2 billion U.S. by 2027
- Asia golf market double to $12 billion by 2030
- U.S. economic output $100 billion by 2025 projection
- Gen Z retention rate 40% improvement forecast
- Sustainable practices 80% adoption by 2030
- Tech in golf 25% market penetration by 2028
- Public course fees up 5% annually to 2027
- New course builds 100/year post-2025 U.S.
- Esports golf viewers 50 million by 2027
- Corporate golf spend $2 billion by 2026 U.S.
- Diversity in golf 30% non-white by 2030 goal
- EV carts 50% fleet by 2030 U.S.
Industry Growth and Future Projections Interpretation
The sport is no longer merely escaping the rough; it's actively building a bigger, more inclusive, and tech-savvy green with everyone from Gen Z hackers to corporate spenders lining up to tee off.
Market Size and Revenue
- The U.S. golf industry generated $84.3 billion in total economic output from on-course golf in 2021
- Global golf equipment market size reached $7.89 billion in 2022
- U.S. golf-related retail sales totaled $5.2 billion in 2023
- The on-course golf economy in the U.S. supported 2.1 million jobs in 2022
- International golf tourism generated $24 billion annually pre-COVID
- U.S. public golf course revenue averaged $2.5 million per course in 2022
- Golf apparel market worldwide valued at $4.1 billion in 2023
- European golf market revenue hit €15.5 billion in 2022
- U.S. off-course golf entertainment venues generated $1.8 billion in 2023
- Global golf course construction market worth $2.3 billion in 2023
- U.S. golf betting market size estimated at $3.5 billion in 2023
- Private club golf revenue in U.S. reached $12.4 billion in 2022
- Asia-Pacific golf market valued at $5.6 billion in 2023
- U.S. golf media rights deals worth $500 million annually
- Canadian golf industry economic impact $5.6 billion in 2022
- UK golf sector contributed £4.2 billion to economy in 2022
- Australia golf industry GVA $3.8 billion in 2023
- Global golf simulator market $1.7 billion in 2023
- U.S. junior golf programs spending $250 million yearly
- Golf real estate developments generated $10 billion in U.S. sales 2022
- South African golf economy R20 billion in 2023
- Japanese golf market ¥1.2 trillion in 2022
- Brazil golf industry BRL 2.5 billion impact 2023
- Middle East golf tourism $1.1 billion in 2023
- U.S. corporate golf outings revenue $1.2 billion 2023
- Indian golf market INR 15,000 crore in 2023
- New Zealand golf economic contribution NZ$1.4 billion 2022
- Mexico golf tourism $800 million USD 2023
- Scotland golf industry £1.8 billion GVA 2023
- Global golf travel market $25 billion projected 2024
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
The numbers prove golf is a serious global business, but let's be honest, it's still just a very expensive way to tell someone you'll see them in four hours.
Participation and Players
- 25 million Americans played on-course golf at least once in 2023
- U.S. golf participation reached 28.1 million players in 2023
- Junior golf participation in U.S. up 42% since 2019 to 3.5 million in 2023
- Female golfers in U.S. increased to 7.4 million in 2023
- Off-course golf participation hit 22 million in U.S. 2023
- Global golf participants estimated at 60 million in 2023
- U.S. adult core golfers numbered 8.1 million playing 8+ times/year 2023
- Rounds played in U.S. totaled 545 million in 2023
- First-time golfers in U.S. reached 3.6 million in 2023
- UK golf club members 680,000 in 2023
- Canadian on-course golfers 5.7 million in 2022
- Australia golf participation 1.2 million players 2023
- Japanese golfers 8.5 million in 2023
- South Korea golf participants 10.2 million 2023
- European golfers total 7.2 million members 2022
- U.S. lapsed golfers returning at 24% rate since 2020
- Hispanic/Latino golfers in U.S. grew to 700,000 in 2023
- Senior golfers (65+) in U.S. 5.2 million 2023
- Millennial golfers in U.S. 6.8 million 2023
- Gen Z golf participation doubled to 2.1 million U.S. 2023
- Public course rounds 70% of total U.S. play 2023
- Twilight rounds increased 15% in U.S. 2023
- Solo golf rounds up 20% post-COVID in U.S.
- Women played 26% of U.S. golf rounds in 2023
- Average age of U.S. golfers 44.5 years in 2023
- U.S. golfers average 29 rounds per year in 2023
- Indoor golf participants 15 million globally 2023
- Brazil golfers 400,000 registered 2023
- India golf players 1.5 million 2023
- South Africa golfers 450,000 2023
- New Zealand participants 120,000 golfers 2023
- Mexico golfers 250,000 2023
Participation and Players Interpretation
While golf's traditionalists might clutch their pearls at the thought of Topgolf, the sport is clearly teeing off into a new era, as evidenced by a youthful and diverse surge of players who are happily driving up participation rates both on and off the course.
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