65 Golf Industry Statistics on Participation, Trends and Business

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Golf spans traditional course play, short-form facilities, off-course entertainment and equipment businesses. The statistics below define those populations and periods explicitly, focusing on U.S. participation and selected 2024 company measures rather than claiming a single global industry total.

Key Golf Industry Statistics

The most useful high-level measures are:

  • 28.1 million Americans played golf on a course in 2024, according to the National Golf Foundation (NGF) estimate for U.S. on-course golfers.
  • Female golfers represented 28% of U.S. on-course golfers in 2024, based on the NGF participation estimate.
  • Black, Asian and Hispanic golfers represented 25% of U.S. on-course golfers in 2024, as a combined NGF racial and ethnic grouping.
  • The U.S. on-course golfer population gained 2.3 million females from 2020 to 2024, measured as a net NGF estimate.
  • The U.S. on-course golfer population gained 2.1 million golfers of color from 2020 to 2024, using the NGF combined Black, Asian and Hispanic segment.
  • Women and girls accounted for approximately 60% of the net gain in U.S. on-course golfers from 2019 to 2024, a share of net change rather than all golfers.
  • Nearly 7.9 million U.S. women played golf on a course in 2024, according to the NGF estimate.
  • About 45 million Americans participated in golf in 2023 when NGF on-course, off-course and dual engagement groups were combined.
  • 77.25 million WHS scores were posted in the United States from January 1 through November 30, 2024, according to the USGA snapshot.
  • More than 3.35 million U.S. golfers maintained a Handicap Index in 2024, within the World Handicap System dataset.
  • 13,798,174 nine-hole scores were posted in the United States in 2024, a WHS score-posting measure rather than a census of rounds.
  • More than 180,000 scores were posted at over 350 U.S. short courses from January through November 2024, in the USGA dataset.
  • 8.2 million U.S. women engaged with golf exclusively away from the course in 2024, according to an NGF estimate.
  • Topgolf Callaway Brands reported $4.2393 billion in worldwide net revenue for 2024, across its reported business segments.
  • Topgolf venue revenue reached $1.7283 billion worldwide in 2024, up 2.1% from 2023.
  • Topgolf same-venue sales declined 8.6% in 2024, using the company’s comparable venue definition.
  • Topgolf Callaway Brands operated 100 company-owned and operated venues on December 31, 2024, including 96 in the United States and four in the United Kingdom.
  • Callaway Golf Equipment revenue was $1.3820 billion in 2024, including $1.0609 billion from golf clubs and $321.1 million from golf balls.

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Golf Industry Statistics: Participation and Total Market Reach

The NGF separates traditional on-course golfers from broader golf engagement. That distinction matters because course participation and watching, reading or other off-course activity describe different populations.

  • The NGF estimated 28.1 million U.S. on-course golfers in 2024, the highest total since 2008; this is an estimate of people who played on a course, not all golf-interested Americans. NGF, “Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying”
  • Female golfers represented 28% of U.S. on-course golfers in 2024, while Black, Asian and Hispanic golfers represented 25% as a combined racial and ethnic grouping. These segments can overlap, so their percentages should not be added. NGF, “Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying”
  • The U.S. had nearly 7.9 million female on-course golfers and almost 7 million Black, Asian and Hispanic on-course golfers in 2024. Both are NGF estimates, and the racial and ethnic categories are not necessarily mutually exclusive. NGF, “Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying”
  • From the start of the pandemic to 2024, the on-course population grew by a net 2.3 million females and 2.1 million golfers of color. NGF describes these as trend comparisons between its pandemic baseline and year-end estimates. NGF, “Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying”
  • Women and girls accounted for approximately 60% of the net gain in U.S. on-course golfers from 2019 to 2024. This is a share of net change, not a claim that women made up 60% of all golfers. NGF, “Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying”

Golf Participation Statistics by Gender, Race and Age

The longer NGF trend series shows how participation differs by engagement type and demographic segment. The figures below retain the source’s age and group definitions rather than treating them as a universal classification system.

Measure Period U.S. result Definition or limitation
Women and girls as share of on-course golfers 2012 20% Historical NGF benchmark
Women and girls on-course population 2018–2023 23% increase NGF estimate; period ends in 2023
Asian, Black and Hispanic on-course population 2018–2023 43% increase Combined segment; NGF estimate
Juniors on-course population 2018–2023 40% increase Source-specific junior definition

Source: NGF, “Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying” and NGF, “Golf Participation Update — Bigger, Younger and Cooler”.

NGF’s 2023 engagement categories make the breadth of the audience clearer:

The USGA’s 2024 Golf Scorecard reports World Handicap System (WHS) activity. Posted scores and Handicap Index holders are useful participation signals, but they are not a census of every round or golfer.

WHS measure 2024 result Comparison or share
Posted scores, Jan. 1–Nov. 30 77.25 million Up 1.77 million, or 2.3%, from 2023
Posted scores versus 2020 77.25 million Up 6.23 million, or 8.8%
Male posted scores 65.45 million 84.7% of posted scores
Female posted scores 11.8 million 15.3% of posted scores
Handicap Index holders More than 3.35 million Up more than 6% year over year; nearly 30% from 2020

Source: USGA, “USGA Unveils Inaugural Golf Scorecard: A 2024 Snapshot of the Recreational Game”.

Other WHS measures describe how golfers recorded scores and how shorter formats contributed to activity:

Golf Courses, Facilities and Off-Course Play Data

Short-form golf and off-course participation broaden the industry beyond full-length courses. NGF survey figures also show that familiarity and actual use can differ, especially among female participants and prospects.

Golf Equipment and Entertainment Revenue Statistics

Topgolf Callaway Brands provides a company-level view of equipment, services and golf entertainment for the year ended December 31, 2024. These figures are not a total golf-industry market size and include the company’s reported segments.

Topgolf Callaway Brands measure 2024 result Change or scope
Total net revenue $4.2393 billion Down 1.1% from 2023
Product revenue $2.4478 billion Company category
Service revenue $1.7915 billion Primarily includes Topgolf services
Golf Equipment revenue $1.3820 billion Segment revenue
Golf clubs $1.0609 billion Clubs figure excludes golf balls
Golf balls $321.1 million Segment golf-ball revenue

Source: Topgolf Callaway Brands 2024 Form 10-K.

Within Golf Equipment, golf-club revenue fell 1.2% from 2023 to 2024, while golf-ball revenue rose 2.3%. The company’s service revenue category was $1.7915 billion, while product revenue was $2.4478 billion; these are company categories and should not be treated as separate industry-wide totals. Topgolf Callaway Brands 2024 Form 10-K

Topgolf’s reported 2024 results show growth in total segment revenue alongside weaker comparable-venue sales. The distinction between reported revenue, same-venue performance and accounting charges is important when interpreting business health.

The company’s geographic revenue and profitability measures provide additional context, but they are consolidated company figures rather than golf-only market totals:

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