About Golf in the United States Today

How many golfers are there in the U.S.?
There are 26.2 million golfers in the United States. A golfer is defined as anyone ages 18 and above who played at least one regulation round of golf in the past 12 months. 36.7 million Americans are golf participants, defined as anyone ages 5 and above who either played a round of golf or visited a golf practice facility.
More than 45 percent of golfers (11.9 million) are between the ages of 18 and 39. Seniors (ages 50 and over) comprise another 33 percent or 8.6 million.
There are 5.76 million female golfers, which is 22 percent of all golfers.
There are 6.1 million junior golfers ages 5-17 who have either played a round of golf or visited a golf practice facility.
How many golf facilities are there in the U.S.?
As of December 31, 2004 there were 16,057 facilities, 11,690 of which were open to the public. A facility is a complex containing at least one golf course.
The states with the most golf facilities are as follows:
Florida (1,073)
California (925)
Texas (857)
Michigan (852)
New York (822)
Another way to look at golf supply is in 18-hole equivalents (the number of holes divided by 18). As of year-end 2004, there were 14,988 18-hole equivalents (or 269,784 golf holes). Last year, a total of 150.5 new 18-hole equivalents came online across the U.S., of which 68 percent were open to the public.
At the end of 2004, there were 1,141 18-hole equivalents in the construction pipeline, including 320 under construction, 409.5 in planning and 261 proposed.
About 50 percent of golf holes currently under construction will be part of a residential community, but only 22 percent of total holes are part of a golf community.
How much do golfers spend?
Golfers spent $24.3 billion in 2002 on equipment and fees.
They spent $19.7 billion on public and private green fees and dues in 2002, which accounted for 81 percent of all spending. They spent $4.7 billion on equipment (clubs, balls, bags, gloves, shoes).
Avid golfers (25+ rounds annually) make up the smallest player segment (23 percent), but accounted for 63 percent of all golf-related spending in 2002.
What is the average golfer`s score and has it changed much over the years?
NGF research shows that only 22 percent of all golfers regularly score better than 90 for 18 holes on a regulation length course. For females, the percentage is just 7 percent...and for males it is 25 percent.
The average 18-hole score on a full-size course is 97 for men and 114 for women. It`s an even 100 for all golfers. Only 6 percent of the men and 1 percent of the women say they break 80 regularly.
When asked what they`d like to shoot, most golfers say they`d be satisfied if they could shoot 85 on an 18-hole regulation course on a regular basis.
The average scores have changed very little over the years.
What percentage of today`s golfers maintain a handicap?
Less than 20% of all golfers maintain a handicap, which averages 19-20.
What is the average green fee at a public golf course?
The median cost of a weekend round of golf at an 18-hole municipal golf course in the U.S. is $36 including cart and green fee. (Median means that half the values fall below $36 and half above.) At a daily fee course it`s $40.
The average 18-hole daily fee golf course records 30,000 rounds per year, employs a total of 13 full-time people and brings in about $992,000 in total revenues. Nine-hole courses average 17,000 rounds and have four employees.
What are the most popular travel destinations for golfers?
Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, California and Arizona are the most popular travel destinations for golfers.
Golfers spend about $26.1 billion a year on golf travel, 75 percent of which goes to the hotel, transportation and food and beverage industries.
How many of today`s golfers actually live on a golf course?
Approximately 3.7 million or 15 percent of all golfers are permanent residents of a golf course community. And, eight out of 10 of these golfers own their residences.
Another 3 percent of all golfers own a residence on a golf course that they use as a vacation home or rent out as investment property.
How many minority golfers are there in the U.S.?
According to a study conducted by NGF in 2003, there are:
1.3 million African-American golfers ages 18+
1.1 million Asian-American golfers age 18+
965,000 Hispanic-American golfers age 18+(Note: Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.)