These golf ball figures cover the measurement periods and populations identified in the available source material. Estimates, surveys and forecasts retain their reported scope.
Key Golf Ball Statistics
The main findings are:
- Green-grass golf participation topped 28 million U.S. golfers in 2024.
- U.S. courses hosted more than 531 million rounds in 2023.
- Callaway Golf Balls generated $321.1 million in 2024 net revenue (year ended December 31, 2024; Callaway Brands worldwide).
- 97% of PGA TOUR players used a driver on holes used for driving-distance measurement (2024 season).
- Junior participation in R&A affiliated markets was 43.9 million in 2024 (R&A affiliated markets excluding United States and Mexico).
- The USGA 2024 scorecard’s average handicap index was 14.2 for male golfers (United States WHS male golfers).
- Total U.S. golf participation reached 47.2 million people in 2024 when on-course and off-course real-ball, real-club, full-swing formats are combined.
- 2023 U.S. rounds exceeded the previous high from 2021 by 0.3% (2021-2023).
- Callaway Golf Balls generated $314.0 million in 2023 net revenue (year ended December 31, 2023; Callaway Brands worldwide).
- 97% of DP World Tour players used a driver on holes used for driving-distance measurement (2024 season).
- 80% of juniors in R&A affiliated markets engaged through formats other than 9- or 18-hole on-course golf (2024; R&A affiliated markets excluding United States and Mexico).
- The USGA 2024 scorecard’s average handicap index was 28.7 for female golfers (United States WHS female golfers).
- Total U.S. participation rose 5% from 2023 to 2024 (2023-2024).
- More than 500 million U.S. rounds were played in each of the four years before the February 2024 NGF report (2020-2023).
- Callaway Golf Balls revenue increased $7.1 million year over year in 2024 (2023-2024; Callaway Brands worldwide).
Contents
- Key Golf Ball Statistics
- Golf participation statistics and the scale of ball use
- Golf rounds, score-posting and player-engagement data
- Golf ball company revenue, category growth and market signals
- Golf ball performance statistics: distance, speed and spin
- Golf participation demographics and non-traditional formats
- Golf ball research, testing limits and future distance trends
Golf participation statistics and the scale of ball use
- Green-grass golf participation topped 28 million U.S. golfers in 2024. (Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes)
- Total U.S. golf participation reached 47.2 million people in 2024 when on-course and off-course real-ball, real-club, full-swing formats are combined. (Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes)
- Total U.S. participation rose 5% from 2023 to 2024 (2023-2024). (Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes)
- Total U.S. participation was 38% above the 2019 pre-pandemic comparison in 2024 (2019-2024). (Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes)
- The number of traditional U.S. golfers increased 16% over the five years through 2024 (2019-2024). (Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes)
- The 2024 U.S. green-grass participation increase was approximately 1.5 million golfers (2023-2024). (Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes)
- The R&A counted 108 million adults and juniors playing golf in affiliated markets in 2024 across all formats (R&A affiliated markets excluding United States and Mexico). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- Adult participation in R&A affiliated markets was 64.1 million in 2024 (R&A affiliated markets excluding United States and Mexico). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
NGF industry participation measure; on-course/green-grass participation, not golf-ball units sold.
Includes multiple formats and should not be read as unique on-course golfers only.
NGF reported change in total participation definition.
Pre-pandemic comparison; not a forecast.
Traditional/green-grass golfer definition follows NGF terminology.
NGF describes the increase as approximately; it is not a count of golf balls.
Includes all formats; jurisdiction excludes the U.S. and Mexico.
Adults playing one or more golf formats.
Golf rounds, score-posting and player-engagement data
- U.S. courses hosted more than 531 million rounds in 2023. (A Record for U.S. Rounds?)
- 2023 U.S. rounds exceeded the previous high from 2021 by 0.3% (2021-2023). (A Record for U.S. Rounds?)
- More than 500 million U.S. rounds were played in each of the four years before the February 2024 NGF report (2020-2023). (A Record for U.S. Rounds?)
- The usual year-to-year weather-related fluctuation in U.S. rounds is plus or minus 3% (historical NGF observation). (A Record for U.S. Rounds?)
- Three of the four years before the February 2024 report saw annual U.S. play increase by more than 3% (2020-2023). (A Record for U.S. Rounds?)
- More than 3.35 million U.S. golfers maintained a Handicap Index in 2024 (January 1-November 30, 2024; United States WHS users). (Golf Scorecard Provides a 2024 Snapshot of the Recreational Game)
- WHS users posted more than 77 million scores in the 2024 USGA dataset (January 1-November 30, 2024; United States WHS users). (Golf Scorecard Provides a 2024 Snapshot of the Recreational Game)
- There were 13,798,174 nine-hole scores posted in 2024 (United States WHS users). (Golf Scorecard Provides a 2024 Snapshot of the Recreational Game)
- Nine-hole score posting increased 8% from 2023 to 2024 (2023-2024; United States WHS users). (Golf Scorecard Provides a 2024 Snapshot of the Recreational Game)
- Nine-hole score posting was nearly 40% above 2020 in 2024 (2020-2024; United States WHS users). (Golf Scorecard Provides a 2024 Snapshot of the Recreational Game)
- More than 180,000 scores had been posted at over 350 short courses by the USGA’s 2024 report (2024 through report publication; United States short courses). (Golf Scorecard Provides a 2024 Snapshot of the Recreational Game)
- 94.5% of the 77 million WHS scores in 2024 were recreational (United States WHS users). (Golf Scorecard Provides a 2024 Snapshot of the Recreational Game)
- 25.4% of male WHS golfers posted at least one competitive score in 2024 (United States WHS users). (Golf Scorecard Provides a 2024 Snapshot of the Recreational Game)
- 23.7% of female WHS golfers posted at least one competitive score in 2024 (United States WHS users). (Golf Scorecard Provides a 2024 Snapshot of the Recreational Game)
NGF course-round estimate; rounds are not equivalent to balls hit.
NGF comparison of annual course rounds.
The source states a threshold for each year, not exact annual totals.
NGF describes a typical range; it is not a causal estimate for every year.
Count of years in NGF annual-round series.
WHS-maintaining golfers, not all golfers.
Scores posted under WHS; data period excludes December until later refresh.
Score-posting count, not a count of unique golfers or balls.
Applies to posted nine-hole scores.
USGA describes the increase as nearly 40%.
Short-course ratings eligibility began during 2024; report is a point-in-time count.
Recreational classification within posted WHS scores.
At least one competitive score; percentages are not mutually exclusive with recreational play.
At least one competitive score; WHS population only.
Golf ball company revenue, category growth and market signals
- Callaway Golf Balls generated $321.1 million in 2024 net revenue (year ended December 31, 2024; Callaway Brands worldwide). (Earnings Release Q4 2024)
- Callaway Golf Balls generated $314.0 million in 2023 net revenue (year ended December 31, 2023; Callaway Brands worldwide). (Earnings Release Q4 2024)
- Callaway Golf Balls revenue increased $7.1 million year over year in 2024 (2023-2024; Callaway Brands worldwide). (Earnings Release Q4 2024)
- Callaway Golf Balls revenue grew 2.3% in 2024 versus 2023 (2023-2024; Callaway Brands worldwide). (Earnings Release Q4 2024)
- Callaway Golf Balls revenue grew 2.7% on a constant-currency basis in 2024 (2023-2024; Callaway Brands worldwide). (Earnings Release Q4 2024)
- Callaway’s 2024 Golf Balls revenue represented about 7.6% of its $4,239.3 million total net revenue (Callaway Brands worldwide). (Earnings Release Q4 2024)
- Callaway Golf Balls generated $46.0 million in fourth-quarter 2024 net revenue (three months ended December 31, 2024; Callaway Brands worldwide). (Earnings Release Q4 2024)
- Callaway Golf Balls generated $39.2 million in fourth-quarter 2023 net revenue (three months ended December 31, 2023; Callaway Brands worldwide). (Earnings Release Q4 2024)
- Callaway fourth-quarter Golf Balls revenue rose $6.8 million year over year (Q4 2023-Q4 2024; Callaway Brands worldwide). (Earnings Release Q4 2024)
- Callaway fourth-quarter Golf Balls revenue grew 17.3% in 2024 versus Q4 2023 (Q4 2023-Q4 2024; Callaway Brands worldwide). (Earnings Release Q4 2024)
- Callaway fourth-quarter Golf Balls revenue grew 17.6% on a constant-currency basis (Q4 2023-Q4 2024; Callaway Brands worldwide). (Earnings Release Q4 2024)
- Acushnet’s consumable products, defined as golf balls and golf gloves, represented nearly 40% of 2024 net sales (Acushnet worldwide). (Acushnet Holdings Corp. 2024 Form 10-K)
- Acushnet’s durable products represented over 60% of 2024 net sales (Acushnet worldwide). (Acushnet Holdings Corp. 2024 Form 10-K)
- Acushnet’s Titleist golf equipment segment represented approximately 61% of 2024 net sales (Acushnet worldwide). (Acushnet Holdings Corp. 2024 Form 10-K)
- Acushnet’s FootJoy golf-wear segment represented approximately 23% of 2024 net sales (Acushnet worldwide). (Acushnet Holdings Corp. 2024 Form 10-K)
- Acushnet’s golf-gear segment represented approximately 9% of 2024 net sales (Acushnet worldwide). (Acushnet Holdings Corp. 2024 Form 10-K)
Company net revenue, not industry-wide golf-ball sales or unit volume.
Company net revenue.
Reported dollar change.
Reported currency basis; company also reports constant-currency figures separately.
Company non-GAAP constant-currency measure.
Calculated from two company-reported figures; not a disclosed segment share.
Quarterly company revenue.
Reported currency basis.
Combined golf balls and gloves; the filing does not isolate golf-ball share in this statement.
Combined clubs, shoes, apparel and gear; not golf balls alone.
Segment includes Titleist golf balls and clubs, not balls alone.
Company segment statistic, not ball revenue.
Golf ball performance statistics: distance, speed and spin
- 97% of PGA TOUR players used a driver on holes used for driving-distance measurement (2024 season). (2024 Distance Report – A Review of Driving Distance)
- 97% of DP World Tour players used a driver on holes used for driving-distance measurement (2024 season). (2024 Distance Report – A Review of Driving Distance)
- In a peer-reviewed elite-amateur wedge test, ball-spin coefficient of variation differed significantly from other impact factors at 45 m (study test; Elite amateur golfers). (Analysing the Accuracy of Elite Amateur Golf Players during a Pre-tournament Wedge Test)
- The same elite-amateur study found a significant ball-spin coefficient-of-variation difference at 55 m (study test; Elite amateur golfers). (Analysing the Accuracy of Elite Amateur Golf Players during a Pre-tournament Wedge Test)
- The same study found a significant ball-spin coefficient-of-variation difference at 65 m (study test; Elite amateur golfers). (Analysing the Accuracy of Elite Amateur Golf Players during a Pre-tournament Wedge Test)
- The same study found a significant ball-spin coefficient-of-variation difference at 75 m (study test; Elite amateur golfers). (Analysing the Accuracy of Elite Amateur Golf Players during a Pre-tournament Wedge Test)
- The same study found a significant ball-spin coefficient-of-variation difference at 85 m (study test; Elite amateur golfers). (Analysing the Accuracy of Elite Amateur Golf Players during a Pre-tournament Wedge Test)
Driver use on measured holes, not all tournament shots.
Controlled pre-tournament wedge test; result does not generalize to all golfers or ball models.
Controlled wedge test population.
Golf participation demographics and non-traditional formats
- Junior participation in R&A affiliated markets was 43.9 million in 2024 (R&A affiliated markets excluding United States and Mexico). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- 80% of juniors in R&A affiliated markets engaged through formats other than 9- or 18-hole on-course golf (2024; R&A affiliated markets excluding United States and Mexico). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- There were 43.3 million adults and juniors playing 9- or 18-hole golf in R&A affiliated markets in 2024 (R&A affiliated markets excluding United States and Mexico). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- R&A-market 9– and 18-hole participation increased from 42.7 million in 2023 to 43.3 million in 2024 (2023-2024; R&A affiliated markets excluding United States and Mexico). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- Registered golfers in R&A affiliated markets increased from 8.2 million to 8.4 million between 2023 and 2024 (2023-2024; R&A affiliated markets excluding United States and Mexico). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- Registered golfers in R&A affiliated markets increased from 7.4 million in 2020 to 8.4 million in 2024 (2020-2024; R&A affiliated markets excluding United States and Mexico). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- Asia had 26.2 million adult golf participants in R&A affiliated markets in 2024 (Asia, R&A affiliated markets). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- Europe had 20.3 million adult golf participants in R&A affiliated markets in 2024 (Europe, R&A affiliated markets). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- Canada had 6.9 million adult golf participants in 2024 under the R&A affiliated-market report. (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- Women represented 31% of total adult participation across the R&A’s nine biggest markets (2024; R&A nine biggest markets). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- Women represented 25% of adult 9- and 18-hole golfers across the R&A’s nine biggest markets (2024; R&A nine biggest markets). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- Women represented 50% of adult participants in other-than-9- or 18-hole formats across the R&A’s nine biggest markets (2024; R&A nine biggest markets, alternative formats). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- 37% of on-course golfers in Canada had played an alternative format before playing on a golf course (R&A pathway research). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
- 36% of on-course golfers in England had played an alternative format before playing on a golf course (R&A pathway research). (Over 100 million golfers in R&A markets as participation grows)
First year the report included junior data; all golf formats.
Non-traditional format definition includes simulator, adventure golf and driving range use.
On-course 9- and 18-hole formats only.
Comparable on-course format series.
Registered means club members or direct national-association subscribers.
Registration count, not total participation.
All golf formats; regional R&A market definition.
All golf formats; Canadian figure is included in R&A affiliated-market reporting.
Nine-market aggregate, not all R&A markets.
On-course subset of the nine-market aggregate.
Alternative-format subset; not a share of all golfers.
Pathway research statistic; sequence is self-reported and does not measure ball purchases.
Pathway research statistic; sequence is self-reported.
Golf ball research, testing limits and future distance trends
- The USGA 2024 scorecard’s average handicap index was 14.2 for male golfers (United States WHS male golfers). (USGA 2024 Golf Scorecard)
- The USGA 2024 scorecard’s average handicap index was 28.7 for female golfers (United States WHS female golfers). (USGA 2024 Golf Scorecard)
- Male golfers posted an average of 24 scores in 2024: 20 18-hole and 4 nine-hole scores (United States WHS male golfers). (USGA 2024 Golf Scorecard)
Average among male golfers in the scorecard population, not all male golfers.
Average among female golfers in the scorecard population.
USGA scorecard average; posted scores are not necessarily rounds played.