From a surprising surge in junior players to a boom in off-course entertainment, the landscape of golf is experiencing a dynamic and inclusive growth spurt, with over 45 million total participants now driving the game forward in the United States.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 26.6 million Americans participated in on-course golf at least once
- Golf participation in the US grew by 38% from 2016 to 2023, reaching 28.1 million core golfers
- 7.5 million junior golfers played on-course in the US in 2023
- Males aged 18-34 represent 22% of US golfers
- Females make up 25% of on-course golfers in US 2023
- Baby Boomers (55-74) comprise 40% of core US golfers
- California has 2.8 million golfers, highest in US
- Florida follows with 2.6 million golf participants
- Texas has 2.2 million golfers
- 40% of US golfers play 25+ rounds per year
- Average rounds per US golfer: 17 in 2023
- 22% play 50+ rounds annually
- Golf participation in US up 20% since 2020 low
- Projected 30 million on-course players by 2025 in US
- Female participation projected to reach 8 million by 2026
Golf participation in America is soaring with over forty-five million total players nationwide.
Demographic Breakdowns
1Males aged 18-34 represent 22% of US golfers
Verified2Females make up 25% of on-course golfers in US 2023
Verified3Baby Boomers (55-74) comprise 40% of core US golfers
Verified4Millennials (27-42) account for 27% of US golf participants
Directional5Gen X (43-56) represent 24% of US golfers
Single source6Women aged 18-34 grew 50% in participation since 2019
Verified772% of US golfers are male
Verified8White non-Hispanics are 74% of US golfers
Verified96% of US golfers are Hispanic/Latino women
Directional10Black golfers increased 25% since 2021 to 2.4 million
Single source11Asian Americans represent 5% of US golf participants
Verified12Juniors (6-17) female participation doubled since 2019
Verified1345% of junior golfers are girls in US 2023
Verified14High-income households (>$125k) comprise 50% of US golfers
Directional15College-educated golfers make up 65% of participants
Single source16Urban dwellers represent 55% of new golfers
Verified17Suburban golfers are 70% of core players
Verified1818% of US golfers are aged 65+
Verified19Women over 55 increased participation by 20%
Directional20LGBTQ+ golfers estimated at 5-7% of total US participants
Single source21Veterans represent 12% of US golfers
Verified22Married individuals are 60% of golfers
Verified23Parents with children under 18 are 35% of participants
Verified24Single golfers grew 15% post-pandemic
Directional2528% of US female golfers are under 35
Single source26Male juniors aged 12-17 play 20 rounds/year average
Verified27Female participation in senior divisions up 18%
Verified28Hispanic males 18-34 surged 40% in participation
VerifiedDemographic Breakdowns Interpretation
Golf’s old-boys’-club vibe is getting a delightful reality check, as the surge of new, young, female, and diverse players tees up a future where the fairways might finally start looking like the rest of America.
Frequency of Play
140% of US golfers play 25+ rounds per year
Verified2Average rounds per US golfer: 17 in 2023
Verified322% play 50+ rounds annually
Verified4Core golfers average 41 rounds/year
Directional5Introductory golfers play average 4 rounds/year
Single source635% of golfers play weekly or more
Verified7Off-course average visits: 8 per year for participants
Verified8Topgolf average 5 visits per visitor annually
Verified9Women average 12 rounds/year vs men's 20
Directional10Juniors average 15 rounds/year
Single source1128% of participants play 1-5 times/year
Verified1215% play 6-12 times/year
Verified13Millennial golfers average 18 rounds/year
Verified14Seniors average 22 rounds/year
Directional1560% of core golfers play at public courses monthly
Single source16Driving range only users: 10 million annually average 20 visits
Verified17Simulator users average 25 sessions/year
Verified18Family groups play average 10 rounds together/year
Verified19Corporate outings average 2 events per participant/year
Directional20Tournament players average 12 events/year
Single source21Lesson takers practice 30 hours/year average
Verified2250% of new golfers play 10+ times in first year
Verified23Lapsed returnees average 14 rounds in comeback year
Verified24Weekday play 40% of total rounds, weekend 60%
Directional25Evening play rising 20% with lights
Single source26Winter play in South 80% retention rate
Verified27Mobile app users track 25% more rounds
Verified28Social media engaged golfers play 5 more rounds/year
Verified29Fitness-integrated golfers average 20 rounds
Directional3075% of frequent players use carts
Single source31Walking golfers average 18% more frequent
VerifiedFrequency of Play Interpretation
The heart of the game beats at a frenetic 41 rounds a year for its core devotees, yet it hums along on a gentle, broader rhythm of 17, sustained by a vast and wonderfully diverse chorus of weekend warriors, Topgolf socialites, lesson-taking strivers, returning prodigals, and walking purists, all united by the simple, stubborn pursuit of hitting a tiny ball toward a distant hole.
Geographic Distribution
1California has 2.8 million golfers, highest in US
Verified2Florida follows with 2.6 million golf participants
Verified3Texas has 2.2 million golfers
Verified4New York state 1.1 million participants
Directional5Midwest region accounts for 25% of US golfers
Single source6Southeast US has 35% of national participation
Verified7Northeast golfers number 4.5 million
Verified8West Coast states 20% of total US golfers
Verified9Arizona participation per capita highest at 12%
Directional10South Carolina has 10% participation rate among adults
Single source11Urban areas like NYC metro have 1.5 million golfers
Verified12Rural participation declining 5% annually
Verified13Pacific Northwest states combined 1.2 million
Verified14Mountain states like Colorado 800,000 golfers
Directional15Great Plains low density but 1 million total
Single source16England has 2.8 million golfers
Verified17Scotland 130,000 regular participants
Verified18Ontario Canada leads with 1.2 million
Verified19New South Wales Australia 400,000 golfers
Directional20Tokyo Japan metro 2 million players
Single source21Seoul South Korea 1.5 million urban golfers
Verified22Bavaria Germany 600,000 participants
Verified23Paris region France 500,000 golfers
Verified24Dubai UAE emerging with 150,000 expat golfers
Directional25Toronto Canada metro 800,000
Single source26Midwest US cities like Chicago 700,000
Verified27Sun Belt states combined 12 million golfers
Verified28Northeast metros 3 million total
VerifiedGeographic Distribution Interpretation
While California leads the nation with the sheer number of people who can lose a ball in style, the true soul of the game is a sun-drenched affair, with over a third of all American golfers happily sweltering in the Southeast.
Overall Participation
1In 2023, 26.6 million Americans participated in on-course golf at least once
Verified2Golf participation in the US grew by 38% from 2016 to 2023, reaching 28.1 million core golfers
Verified37.5 million junior golfers played on-course in the US in 2023
Verified4Off-course golf participation reached 18.4 million Americans in 2023
Directional5Total golf participants in the US hit 45 million in 2023 including on and off-course
Single source6Globally, 60 million people played golf in 2022 according to The R&A
Verified7US on-course golf rounds played totaled 547 million in 2023
Verified841% of US golfers are millennials, contributing to participation growth
Verified9Golf participation among women in the US reached 6.4 million on-course players in 2023
Directional10Core golfers (8+ times/year) in US numbered 8.1 million in 2023
Single source11Occasional golfers (1-7 times/year) totaled 18.5 million in US 2023
Verified12Golf facilities in US saw 531 million rounds played in 2022
Verified1325 million Americans played golf on-course in 2021
Verified14Participation rate among US adults aged 6+ was 8% for golf in 2023
Directional15Driving ranges hosted 24 million participants in US 2023
Single source16Topgolf venues attracted 32 million visitors in 2023
Verified1712.4 million lapsed golfers returned to the game since 2020 in US
Verified18Golf participation in Canada reached 5.7 million in 2023
Verified19UK golf participation was 5.8 million adults in 2022
Directional20Australia had 1.2 million golfers in 2023
Single source21Japan boasts 8 million registered golfers
Verified22South Korea has 6.5 million golfers participating regularly
Verified23Germany recorded 5.2 million golf participants in 2022
Verified24France saw 2.4 million golfers in 2023
Directional25India has over 2 million golf enthusiasts growing annually
Single source26Brazil participation exceeds 500,000 golfers
Verified27Mexico has 300,000 registered golfers
Verified28US female participation grew 15% from 2021-2023 to 6.4 million
Verified29Hispanic/Latino golfers in US reached 3.1 million in 2023
Directional30Black/African American golfers numbered 2.4 million in US 2023
Single source316.9 million Gen Z played golf in US 2023
VerifiedOverall Participation Interpretation
Golf is no longer just a quiet walk spoiled, but a booming social sport where nearly 45 million Americans, from returning veterans to a new wave of millennials and Gen Z, are now happily sharing the frustration from Topgolf to the traditional fairway.
Trends and Projections
1Golf participation in US up 20% since 2020 low
Verified2Projected 30 million on-course players by 2025 in US
Verified3Female participation projected to reach 8 million by 2026
Verified4Junior growth 25% expected next 5 years
Directional5Off-course to grow 10% annually through 2027
Single source6Diversity participation up 50% since 2019, ongoing trend
Verified7Millennial retention projected at 70%
Verified8Pace of play improvements to boost participation 15%
Verified9Tech integration like apps to add 5 million players
Directional10Sustainability efforts to attract 10% more eco-conscious
Single source11Post-COVID surge stabilized at +2% annual growth
Verified12Global participation to hit 65 million by 2025
Verified13US rounds projected 600 million by 2027
Verified14Public course demand up 12% long-term
Directional15Resort golf growing 8% with travel recovery
Single source16Youth programs to double girls' participation
Verified17Aging population to sustain senior play +5%/year
Verified18Urban simulators to add 3 million off-course
Verified19International travel golf up 20% post-pandemic
Directional20E-sports golf crossover projected 1 million new
Single source21Health focus to increase frequency 10%
Verified22Social media influence on new players +30%
Verified23Course development lag may cap growth at 28 million
Verified24Economic recovery to boost high-end play 15%
Directional25Climate adaptation for 90% course retention
Single source26Women-led growth to 30% market share by 2030
Verified27Gen Z entry rate 40% higher than prior gens
Verified28Lapsed recovery ongoing, 20% more returns expected
Verified29Hybrid events to increase engagement 25%
Directional30Mental health benefits driving 12% uptick
Single source31Corporate wellness programs to add 2 million
VerifiedTrends and Projections Interpretation
Golf is having a spectacular mid-life renaissance, deftly swapping its stuffy cardigans for tech-friendly polo shirts as it lures a refreshingly diverse, young, and eco-conscious crowd onto both lush fairways and urban simulators.
Sources & References
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