These golf accessibility figures cover the measurement periods and populations identified in the available source material. Estimates, surveys and forecasts retain their reported scope.
Key Golf Accessibility Statistics
The main findings are:
- 28.1 million Americans played golf on a course in 2024, the highest total since 2008.
- Women and girls represented 28% of on-course golfers in 2024.
- More than 19 million Americans played off-course golf exclusively in 2024.
- Only 49% of female golf participants included on-course golf in 2024.
- 42 of 434 NFAG respondents, or 9.7%, currently played golf (period not stated; Survey respondents with disabilities).
- Among 373 non-current players, 22.0% had played golf before disability (period not stated; Survey respondents with disabilities).
- The USGA WHS dataset included 3.35 million U.S. golfers posting over 77 million scores in 2024 (Jan 1–Nov 30, 2024; United States WHS users).
- The 2024 net increase in on-course golfers was approximately 1.5 million.
- The female on-course golfer population reached nearly 7.9 million (2024).
- Females made up 43% of the off-course-only group (2024).
- Men had a 65% on-course crossover rate, based on 20.2 million of 31.2 million participants (2024).
- Among 373 non-current players, 7.8% had played golf since disability (period not stated; Survey respondents with disabilities).
- 13,798,174 nine-hole scores were posted in 2024 (Jan 1–Nov 30, 2024; United States WHS users).
- Traditional golfers increased 16% over the five years through 2024 (2019–2024).
- Females accounted for 20% of on-course golfers in 2012.
Contents
- Key Golf Accessibility Statistics
- Golf accessibility statistics: participation scale and recent growth
- Golf accessibility data by women, girls and people of color
- Golf accessibility trends for beginners, juniors and off-course formats
- Short-course access and retention statistics
- Adaptive golf participation and disability-related barriers
- Golf access through handicaps, nine-hole play and recreational use
- What golf accessibility statistics show about latent demand and inclusion
Golf accessibility statistics: participation scale and recent growth
- 28.1 million Americans played golf on a course in 2024, the highest total since 2008. (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- The 2024 net increase in on-course golfers was approximately 1.5 million. (Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes)
- Traditional golfers increased 16% over the five years through 2024 (2019–2024). (Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes)
- Total golf participation reached 47.2 million in 2024 across on- and off-course full-swing engagement. (Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes)
- Total participation was 5% higher than in 2023 (2023–2024). (Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes)
- Total participation was 38% above the 2019 pre-pandemic comparison (2019–2024). (Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes)
Broad engagement, not an on-course count.
Golf accessibility data by women, girls and people of color
- Women and girls represented 28% of on-course golfers in 2024. (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- The female on-course golfer population reached nearly 7.9 million (2024). (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- Females accounted for 20% of on-course golfers in 2012. (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- Women and girls accounted for approximately 60% of the net green-grass gain since 2019 (2019–2024). (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- Female on-course golfers increased by 2.3 million since the pandemic began (2020–2024). (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- Black, Asian and Hispanic golfers represented 25% of on-course golfers in 2024. (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- Nearly 7 million Black, Asian and Hispanic people played on course in 2024. (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- People of color represented 8% of green-grass golfers in 1990 and 16% in 2000 (1990 and 2000). (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
Overlaps with female category.
Historical category definitions may differ.
Golf accessibility trends for beginners, juniors and off-course formats
- More than 19 million Americans played off-course golf exclusively in 2024. (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- Females made up 43% of the off-course-only group (2024). (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- People of color made up 45% of the off-course-only group (2024). (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- Women and girls represented 35% of beginners in the latest NGF profile (latest profile). (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- Women and girls represented 35% of juniors in the latest NGF profile (latest profile). (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- Women and girls represented 43% of off-course-only participants in the latest NGF profile (latest profile). (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- Women and girls playing on course rose 23% from 2018 to 2023 (2018–2023). (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
- Asian, Black and Hispanic on-course golfers rose 43% from 2018 to 2023 (2018–2023). (Golf Participation: Growing & Diversifying)
Displayed excerpt does not specify profile year.
Short-course access and retention statistics
- Only 49% of female golf participants included on-course golf in 2024. (Can Short-Form Golf Transform Female…)
- Men had a 65% on-course crossover rate, based on 20.2 million of 31.2 million participants (2024). (Can Short-Form Golf Transform Female…)
- Retained female golfers played on course at least three times during introduction at 76% versus 42% (period not stated). (Can Short-Form Golf Transform Female…)
- Retained female golfers reported consistent playing partners at 60% versus 39% (period not stated). (Can Short-Form Golf Transform Female…)
- Only 9% of golf-interested females had played a par-3 course (period not stated). (Can Short-Form Golf Transform Female…)
Association, not causation.
Population is interested females, not all women.
Adaptive golf participation and disability-related barriers
42 of 434 NFAG respondents, or 9.7%, currently played golf (period not stated; Survey respondents with disabilities). (Fifth National Forum on Accessible…)
Historical respondent survey, not prevalence.
Golf access through handicaps, nine-hole play and recreational use
- Among 373 non-current players, 22.0% had played golf before disability (period not stated; Survey respondents with disabilities). (Fifth National Forum on Accessible…)
- Among 373 non-current players, 7.8% had played golf since disability (period not stated; Survey respondents with disabilities). (Fifth National Forum on Accessible…)
Only non-current players answered.
What golf accessibility statistics show about latent demand and inclusion
- The USGA WHS dataset included 3.35 million U.S. golfers posting over 77 million scores in 2024 (Jan 1–Nov 30, 2024; United States WHS users). (USGA Golf Scorecard and GHIN…)
- 13,798,174 nine-hole scores were posted in 2024 (Jan 1–Nov 30, 2024; United States WHS users). (USGA Golf Scorecard and GHIN…)
- Nine-hole score posting increased 8% from 2023 to 2024 (2023–2024; United States WHS users). (USGA Golf Scorecard and GHIN…)
- Nine-hole score posting was nearly 40% higher than in 2020 (2020–2024; United States WHS users). (USGA Golf Scorecard and GHIN…)
- More than 3.35 million golfers maintained a Handicap Index, up over 6% year over year (2023–2024; United States WHS users). (USGA Golf Scorecard and GHIN…)
- The Handicap Index population was nearly 30% higher than in 2020 (2020–2024; United States WHS users). (USGA Golf Scorecard and GHIN…)
- Over 180,000 scores were posted at more than 350 short courses (2024; United States short courses). (USGA Golf Scorecard and GHIN…)
- 94.5% of the 77 million posted scores were recreational (Jan 1–Nov 30, 2024; United States WHS users). (USGA Golf Scorecard and GHIN…)
Measured WHS users, not all golfers.
Reported cumulative figure, not a participation rate.