New stats and economic numbers for National Golf Day

New Economic Impact Study

The new Economic Impact Study, conducted by the National Golf Foundation, provides insight into the health of the industry, including:

Golf’s complete economic portrait in the U.S., which totals $226 billion and reveals a significant ripple effect, with millions spurred to travel, make ancillary purchases, and buy and build homes connected to golf.

The enabling of 1.65 million jobs (including more than 1 million directly tied to the industry).

Golf as a vehicle for fundraising, with almost $4.6 billion raised in 2022, a 16% increase compared to 2016 ($3.9 billion) and close to 1% of all charitable giving in the U.S. Over 90% of golf-related fundraising was stimulated by events at local courses, with 4-out-of-5 facilities holding at least one event in 2022.

How alternative forms of golf (like Topgolf) have made the game increasingly accessible to a larger, more diverse audience, helping to push golf’s overall participant base to 41.1 million (up from 32 million in 2016). In 2022, 48% of all golf participants (on- and off-course) were between the ages of 6 and 34, outsizing their share of the U.S. 6+ population (41%).

How the on-course participant profile continues to diversify, with new high marks in 2022 in the proportion of golfers who are female or people of color.

Beyond economics, golf is also a community asset, positively contributing to physical, mental and social wellness. Recent research highlights the game’s role in helping people – 35- to 49-year-olds especially – recover from stress and recharge their mental battery. Surveys also indicate that 97% of U.S. golf facilities organized at least one recreational program or initiative in 2022 to expand golf’s local reach and impact, in turn supporting the quality of life within their communities.

During National Golf Day, the industry is also celebrating and continuing to talk about how the game supports the planet with valuable green space, improved air quality, sanctuaries for essential habitats, and advancements to overall sustainability. The industry has successfully reduced water usage by 29% since 2005.