The year counted 24.1 million players in the U.S., after two years at 24.7 million. But positive signs can be found, according to the National Golf Foundation, in strength among committed golfers, beginning golfers and those interested in taking up the game. Attrition in the overall number continues to be confined mainly to those “who never really got into the game,” the organization says.
Final U.S. golf participation numbers for 2015, as reported by the National Golf Foundation (NGF), showed a 600,000 decrease for the year, to 24.1 million, from 24.7 million in the two previous years. The NGF’s numbers count those over the age of 6 who played golf at least once during the year.
The NGF said that positive signs could be found, however, in how the numbers remained strong among committed golfers, beginning golfers and in the number of people interested in taking up the game. Attrition in the overall numbers continues to be confined, the NGF said, mainly to those who “never really got into the game.”
About 80 percent of all golfers, or 20 million of the 24.1 million, make up a committed base who accounted for 94 percent of all rounds played and equipment spending in 2015, the NGF reported. Play among this group drove an overall increase in rounds played of 1.8% versus 2014, as reported by the National Rounds Played Coalition (comprised of NGF, Golf Datatech, PGA of America and the National Golf Course Owners Association).
The younger players who are having success on the professional golf tours, including Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Lexi Thompson and teenager Lydia Ko, appear to be resonating with those who might have interest in taking up the game, the NGF said. Beginners numbered 2.2 million in 2015, which compares favorably to the all- time high of 2.4 million in 2000, at the peak of Tiger Woods’ success when he won three major championships. And the biggest group of beginners in 2015 were Millennials, the NGF added.
Interest in playing golf is now at an all-time high, the NGF said, with an estimated 37 million non-golfers saying they are interested in taking up the game. And roughly 20 percent may already be making their first moves, the organization added. In addition to the 24 million people who played golf on a golf course last year, another 7 million took part in the game at a driving range, a TopGolf facility or on an indoor golf simulator.
Golf’s overall reach is impressive, too, the NGF said. An estimated 81 million people, including 62 million non-golfers, watched golf on TV in 2015, while 27 million read about the game in traditional or electronic media, the organization reported. One out of three Americans—about 95 million—played golf on a golf course or alternate venue, watched on TV or read about it in 2015.
“The interest is there,” the NGF concluded when releasing 2015’s final numbers. “The challenge is to activate more of the people who are interested in playing, and to retain a higher percentage of those who do give golf a try. Getting more beginners to enter the game through structured introduction programs like Get Golf Ready is the key to improving retention.
“While participation growth remains difficult to achieve, with the recession in the rearview mirror and an exciting new wave of young players in front of us, there are good reasons to be optimistic about future growth if emphasis continues to be placed on converting more beginners into committed golfers,” the NGF added
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