Our NGF researchers have measured the health and vitality of the U.S. golf industry for more than 80 years. Through the support of our members, we’re able to provide golf’s stakeholders with accurate and timely information that helps everyone in golf become smarter about the industry in which they operate.
Members can access the annual "Graffis Report," our holistic golf industry overview, by clicking HERE.
Golf participation is a core measure of golf’s vitality. NGF closely tracks how many people play the game, as well as the demographic composition of America's golf consumer base.
More than one-third of the U.S. population over the age of 5 played golf (on-course or off-course), followed golf on television or online, read about the game, or listened to a golf-related podcast in 2023. This is up 30% since 2016.
This record-setting total includes 26.6 million people who played on a golf course and another 18.4 million who participated exclusively in off-course golf activities at places like driving ranges, indoor golf simulators, or golf entertainment venues like Topgolf.
The industry has had 10 straight years with more than 2 million beginners, with the past four topping 3 million. Prior to the pandemic-boosted totals of recent years, the previous recorded-high of 2.4 million was set in 2000, when Tiger Woods was at the height of his popularity. Off-course forms of golf -- such as entertainment golf venues -- are proving a valuable on-ramp for introductions, helping participants build confidence and comfort before visiting a golf course for the first time. Retention and conversion of newcomers remains an industry focus, and obstacle.
The engagement within this demographic has remained steady for nearly a decade. Interest in playing among non-golfing young adults is high, with more than 7 million saying they are "very interested" in taking up the game.
played golf on a course in 2023. This segment is more diverse than the overall golf population and has seen a 40% increase since 2019, the largest gains of any age group.
of today's juniors are girls compared to 15% in 2000. More than one-quarter of juniors are non-Caucasian while just 6% were minority participants just over 20 years ago.
