GITNUXREPORT 2025

Golf Industry Statistics

Golf industry worth $84 billion; participation varies, embracing innovation and sustainability.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The global market for golf simulators is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7% through 2028

Statistic 2

Golf equipment sales in North America reached $1.8 billion in 2022, a slight increase from the previous year

Statistic 3

The average price of a new golf club set in the US is approximately $700, with high-end sets exceeding $2,000

Statistic 4

Golf apparel sales grew by 10% in 2022, driven by lifestyle branding and fashion trends

Statistic 5

The use of advanced technology such as GPS rangefinders and swing analyzers is prevalent among 70% of avid golfers, enhancing engagement and performance

Statistic 6

There are over 37,000 golf courses worldwide

Statistic 7

The United States has about 15,000 golf courses, making it the country with the most courses

Statistic 8

60% of golf courses in North America are privately owned, while 40% are public

Statistic 9

The number of golf courses in Japan has declined by over 20% since 2000, due to economic and demographic changes

Statistic 10

Approximately 40% of golf facility operators plan to invest in course upgrades within the next year

Statistic 11

The average size of a golf course is about 6,500 yards, but varies significantly by location and design

Statistic 12

Nearly 50% of all golf courses in the US are located in California, Florida, and Texas, the top three states for golf courses

Statistic 13

The average round of golf takes four hours to complete, affecting course capacity and scheduling

Statistic 14

The use of eco-friendly and sustainable golf course practices has increased by 15% in the last five years, driven by environmental concerns

Statistic 15

The average number of holes played per round on a regular golf course is 18, though nine-hole courses are popular for convenience

Statistic 16

The number of artificial turf golf courses has increased by 12% over the past five years, offering an alternative to natural grass courses

Statistic 17

The number of golf course closures in the US was approximately 200 between 2020 and 2022, largely due to economic pressures

Statistic 18

The average annual revenue per golf course in the US is around $1 million, varying widely depending on location and size

Statistic 19

The percentage of golf courses offering twilight rates (discounted evening rounds) has increased to over 65% in the US, boosting late-day play

Statistic 20

The global golf industry was valued at approximately $84 billion in 2022

Statistic 21

The global golf equipment market is expected to reach $4 billion by 2025

Statistic 22

The average price per round of golf in the US is approximately $44

Statistic 23

The golf tourism industry generates approximately $12 billion annually worldwide

Statistic 24

78% of golf facilities in the US reported decreased revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic

Statistic 25

Nearly 80% of golf facilities in the US offer some form of food and beverage service, contributing significantly to revenue streams

Statistic 26

The global golf cart market is projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6%

Statistic 27

The U.S. golf industry supports over 2 million jobs, generating substantial employment income

Statistic 28

The number of golf-related mobile app downloads increased by 14% in 2022, indicating growing digital engagement

Statistic 29

The golf industry’s contribution to tourism is valued at over $15 billion annually in the US alone, including travel, lodging, and recreation

Statistic 30

The revenue from golf club memberships in the US exceeds $4 billion annually, with country clubs accounting for a significant share

Statistic 31

Major golf tournaments like The Masters and the U.S. Open attract over 20 million viewers worldwide

Statistic 32

The number of golf telecasts increased by 8% in 2022 compared to 2021, reflecting rising TV interest

Statistic 33

The number of golf-related YouTube channels surpassed 10,000 in 2022, reflecting rising digital content creation

Statistic 34

In 2022, approximately 24.8 million Americans played golf

Statistic 35

The average annual golf spend per player in the US was around $1,000 in 2021

Statistic 36

Women comprise roughly 24% of all golf participants globally

Statistic 37

The number of golf rounds played in the US decreased by about 10% from 2015 to 2020

Statistic 38

The number of women playing golf in the UK increased by nearly 7% in 2022

Statistic 39

In Australia, golf participation dropped by 4.4% in 2022, following declines in previous years

Statistic 40

The typical golfer is male, aged between 45 and 54, with a household income over $100,000

Statistic 41

The average age of a golf participant in the US is 47 years old

Statistic 42

The number of golf memberships in the US increased by 3% in 2022, reaching approximately 5.2 million members

Statistic 43

In Europe, golf participation increased by 2% in 2022, totaling over 5 million players

Statistic 44

The number of youth golf participants (under 18) in the US grew by 4% in 2022, reaching around 2.5 million

Statistic 45

The average golfer walks approximately 4.5 miles during a round of golf, contributing to fitness

Statistic 46

Approximately 65% of golf courses in the US participate in environmental certifications like Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, promoting sustainability

Statistic 47

The average age of a golf course architect is around 52 years old, indicating a relatively seasoned profession

Statistic 48

The growth of urban golf courses and mini-golf facilities has increased by 9% over the last decade, catering to younger demographics

Statistic 49

55% of golf players in the US identify as recreational rather than competitive, indicating broad leisure interest

Statistic 50

The use of mobile booking apps for tee times doubled in 2022, simplifying access and increasing usage

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Key Highlights

The global golf industry was valued at approximately $84 billion in 2022
There are over 37,000 golf courses worldwide
The United States has about 15,000 golf courses, making it the country with the most courses
In 2022, approximately 24.8 million Americans played golf
The average annual golf spend per player in the US was around $1,000 in 2021
The global golf equipment market is expected to reach $4 billion by 2025
Women comprise roughly 24% of all golf participants globally
The number of golf rounds played in the US decreased by about 10% from 2015 to 2020
The average price per round of golf in the US is approximately $44
The golf tourism industry generates approximately $12 billion annually worldwide
60% of golf courses in North America are privately owned, while 40% are public
The number of women playing golf in the UK increased by nearly 7% in 2022
In Australia, golf participation dropped by 4.4% in 2022, following declines in previous years

The golf industry, a colossal $84 billion global enterprise with over 37,000 courses worldwide, is experiencing dynamic shifts driven by technological innovation, evolving participation trends, and a growing focus on sustainability.

Equipment, Apparel & Technology

The global market for golf simulators is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7% through 2028
Golf equipment sales in North America reached $1.8 billion in 2022, a slight increase from the previous year
The average price of a new golf club set in the US is approximately $700, with high-end sets exceeding $2,000
Golf apparel sales grew by 10% in 2022, driven by lifestyle branding and fashion trends
The use of advanced technology such as GPS rangefinders and swing analyzers is prevalent among 70% of avid golfers, enhancing engagement and performance

Equipment, Apparel & Technology Interpretation

As golf increasingly blends tradition with innovation, the industry’s steady expansion—from high-tech simulators and luxury equipment to trendsetting apparel—suggests that whether on the course or behind a screen, golfers are investing more than ever in perfecting their swing and style.

Golf Courses & Infrastructure

There are over 37,000 golf courses worldwide
The United States has about 15,000 golf courses, making it the country with the most courses
60% of golf courses in North America are privately owned, while 40% are public
The number of golf courses in Japan has declined by over 20% since 2000, due to economic and demographic changes
Approximately 40% of golf facility operators plan to invest in course upgrades within the next year
The average size of a golf course is about 6,500 yards, but varies significantly by location and design
Nearly 50% of all golf courses in the US are located in California, Florida, and Texas, the top three states for golf courses
The average round of golf takes four hours to complete, affecting course capacity and scheduling
The use of eco-friendly and sustainable golf course practices has increased by 15% in the last five years, driven by environmental concerns
The average number of holes played per round on a regular golf course is 18, though nine-hole courses are popular for convenience
The number of artificial turf golf courses has increased by 12% over the past five years, offering an alternative to natural grass courses
The number of golf course closures in the US was approximately 200 between 2020 and 2022, largely due to economic pressures
The average annual revenue per golf course in the US is around $1 million, varying widely depending on location and size
The percentage of golf courses offering twilight rates (discounted evening rounds) has increased to over 65% in the US, boosting late-day play

Golf Courses & Infrastructure Interpretation

With over 37,000 courses worldwide—most notably in the U.S. where California, Florida, and Texas dominate—yet facing closures and demographic shifts like Japan's 20% decline since 2000, the golf industry is pivoting on a fairway of sustainability, technological innovation, and strategic upgrades to tee up future growth amid environmental and economic headwinds.

Market Size and Economic Impact

The global golf industry was valued at approximately $84 billion in 2022
The global golf equipment market is expected to reach $4 billion by 2025
The average price per round of golf in the US is approximately $44
The golf tourism industry generates approximately $12 billion annually worldwide
78% of golf facilities in the US reported decreased revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic
Nearly 80% of golf facilities in the US offer some form of food and beverage service, contributing significantly to revenue streams
The global golf cart market is projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6%
The U.S. golf industry supports over 2 million jobs, generating substantial employment income
The number of golf-related mobile app downloads increased by 14% in 2022, indicating growing digital engagement
The golf industry’s contribution to tourism is valued at over $15 billion annually in the US alone, including travel, lodging, and recreation
The revenue from golf club memberships in the US exceeds $4 billion annually, with country clubs accounting for a significant share

Market Size and Economic Impact Interpretation

Given its $84 billion valuation and burgeoning markets in equipment and carts, the golf industry remains a parsimonious yet pivotal player in global tourism and employment, even as nearly four-fifths of American courses have faced pandemic-induced revenue downturns—highlighting that amidst the fairways' growth, maintaining a steady swing of revenue is as crucial as a perfect putt.

Media & Events

Major golf tournaments like The Masters and the U.S. Open attract over 20 million viewers worldwide
The number of golf telecasts increased by 8% in 2022 compared to 2021, reflecting rising TV interest
The number of golf-related YouTube channels surpassed 10,000 in 2022, reflecting rising digital content creation

Media & Events Interpretation

The golf industry is teeing off into a digital, global spectacle, as major tournaments captivate over 20 million viewers, TV broadcasts surge by 8%, and more than 10,000 YouTube channels demonstrate the sport's evolving and expanding digital frontier.

Participation & Demographics

In 2022, approximately 24.8 million Americans played golf
The average annual golf spend per player in the US was around $1,000 in 2021
Women comprise roughly 24% of all golf participants globally
The number of golf rounds played in the US decreased by about 10% from 2015 to 2020
The number of women playing golf in the UK increased by nearly 7% in 2022
In Australia, golf participation dropped by 4.4% in 2022, following declines in previous years
The typical golfer is male, aged between 45 and 54, with a household income over $100,000
The average age of a golf participant in the US is 47 years old
The number of golf memberships in the US increased by 3% in 2022, reaching approximately 5.2 million members
In Europe, golf participation increased by 2% in 2022, totaling over 5 million players
The number of youth golf participants (under 18) in the US grew by 4% in 2022, reaching around 2.5 million
The average golfer walks approximately 4.5 miles during a round of golf, contributing to fitness
Approximately 65% of golf courses in the US participate in environmental certifications like Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, promoting sustainability
The average age of a golf course architect is around 52 years old, indicating a relatively seasoned profession
The growth of urban golf courses and mini-golf facilities has increased by 9% over the last decade, catering to younger demographics
55% of golf players in the US identify as recreational rather than competitive, indicating broad leisure interest
The use of mobile booking apps for tee times doubled in 2022, simplifying access and increasing usage

Participation & Demographics Interpretation

While golf's traditional demographic remains affluent middle-aged men, rising participation among women and youth, coupled with increased environmental and urban initiatives and a digital boom in tee-time bookings, signals that the sport is subtly swinging towards broader appeal—even if the fairways are still predominantly traversed by seasoned drivers.