New Milestone in Golf’s Evolution                       

By: Joe Beditz – National Golf Foundation

The traditional game of golf has been undergoing an evolution that began long before the pandemic, even as the past two years have been a historic stretch marked by increased golf participation, rounds and engagement, more favorable perceptions of the game, and a generally healthier outlook.

 Yes, golf’s evolution has been under way for some years now, and the latest milestones are significant.

For the first time in history, the overall participant base – the combination of on- and off-course golfers – will top 40 million Americans in 2022. And in another first, the number of people who play non-traditional, off-course forms of the game in the U.S. will surpass the green-grass total.

 This isn’t new math or “moving the goalposts.” The latest findings are part of ongoing research to better understand and frame the evolution of the game.

 Regardless of whether you care about non-golfers swatting balls at a place like Topgolf between rounds of drinks (or struggle with categorizing such a pursuit as a form of golf), it’s positive broad momentum that better positions the game for the future. It’s also notable that some of the growth we’re seeing, both on-course and off, is coming from under-represented segments the industry has been actively seeking to engage. Golf is evolving. In a great many ways.