It is not a secret that the golf industry has faced it’s challenges the past few years, but according to studies and statistics compiled by the National Golf Foundation and other golf-related organizations things are looking up.
- There are 24.7 million U.S. residents who played at least one round of golf in 2014, which is on par with the past three years.
- There are 32.3 million non-golfers who are either “very interested” or “somewhat interested” in playing golf now, and 12 million are millennials between the ages of 18 and 34.
- Baby Boomers (ages 50 to 64) account for nearly 25 percent of all golfers. Nearly 4 million are expected to retire each year for the next 15 years, and based on recent history, the golfers among them are expected to play about twice as much in retirement.
- The First Tee has had more than 10.5 million participants since its inception in 1997. The Carol S. Petrea Foundation, which oversees four First Tee chapters including The First Tee of the Grand Strand, will reach approximately 40,000 youth in 13 Carolinas counties in 2015.
- Participation in PGA Junior League Golf doubled from 2013 to 2014 to nearly 20,000 participants on approximately 1,400 teams across North America.
- Since 2010, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf has grown from 5,000 participants ages 6-17 to an estimated 50,000 in 300 communities.
- The third annual Drive, Chip & Putt competition will have 255 local qualifiers encompassing all 50 states and culminate with the final at Augusta National Golf Club broadcast live on Golf Channel.
- The introductory Get Golf Ready initiative targeting adults has approximately 100,000 participants in 2014.
The golf participation and latent demand numbers cited by NGF are attained through a Physical Activity Council survey of 40,000 Americans ages 6 and older every year regarding their participation in more than 100 sports and fitness activities, including golf.
Thanks to the PGA, USGA and all who strive to grow this great game.
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