Assume golfers are outdated? 1 stat could shock you

Though it’s the game of pop stars, actors and celebrities, of Justin Timberlake, Kathryn Newton, Mark Wahlberg, Patrick Mahomes and hell, even Caitlin Clark, golf remains to be in a battle in opposition to its longtime popularity — specifically, that it’s a sport for outdated codgers.

However I’ve received excellent news, golf individuals. I’m right here to arm you with a recent piece of ammunition to assist in that battle.

(Additionally, for the older golfers who could also be studying this: I feel you’re nice! Most of you aren’t “codgers,” you taught my technology the sport, you’re nonetheless its spine, you’re a core client, you need to proceed to play as usually as you’ll be able to and, by doing so, you’re in reality reaping some epic well being advantages that your non-golfing counterparts usually are not. Preserve swinging.)

Let’s begin right here: Golfers are, as soon as once more, taking part in the sport at a document tempo.

Torrid tee-time tendencies have continued for the fifth consecutive yr; the post-Covid golf growth has introduced new gamers to the sport and people already taking part in are doing so extra usually. In response to the Nationwide Golf Basis, which retains observe of all kinds of fascinating business info and figures, 2024 is on observe to be the fifth consecutive yr that greater than 500 million rounds shall be performed throughout the USA’ 15,000-plus golf programs.

Final yr, 2023, set a document for essentially the most play of all time. And this yr? Golfers are taking part in even extra. By way of August, year-to-date play was up 1.4 p.c over 2023’s record-setting tempo. Whereas it’s sensible to not get too caught up within the particular share factors — stuff like precipitation or heat climate can skew these numbers from yr to yr — the general image is evident: Extra golfers are taking part in extra golf.

So who’re these golfers? Listed here are a couple of issues the NGF says about them:

-In 2023, 26.6 million individuals performed golf on a course (18.4 million extra performed “off-course” at a simulator, Topgolf or comparable location)

-From 2020 by 2023, the variety of on-course golfers within the U.S. rose by almost 2.3 million individuals

-Since 2019, the common age of a golfer has dropped remarkably, from 44.6 to 43.5 years outdated

-Up to now 10 years, golf participation amongst these 65 and older has elevated by 64 p.c

I feel I converse for many golfers once I say that it’s nice extra individuals are taking part in golf (so long as you’ll be able to nonetheless get a tee time). It’s nice that youthful individuals are taking part in extra golf. And it’s nice that older individuals are taking part in extra golf, too. However regardless of that last bullet-point revelation — that older golfers are taking part in extra golf — the NGF’s breakdown by age left me doing a double-take. As of the beginning of 2024, there are extra golfers within the 18-34 year-old demographic than some other age bracket. Test it out within the chart beneath: There are 3.5 million junior golfers (6-17 years outdated), 6.3 million golfers between 18 and 34, 5.3 million between 35 and 49, 6.1 million between 50 and 64 and 5.4 million golfers over the age of 65.

I promised that one stat jumps out, so there it’s: There are extra golfers between 18 and 34 than there are over the age of 65.

For those who ask the common individual to explain the common golfer, I guess they’re extra prone to describe somebody 65-plus than sub-35. However it seems it’s rarer to be in Jack Nicklaus’ age bracket than Scottie Scheffler’s. Rarer to be Bernhard Langer’s peer than Nelly Korda’s. Golfers are youthful than I might have thought. Heck, as soon as Tiger Woods turns 50 in 14 months, he’ll be older than 57 p.c of his fellow golfers.

Earlier than we get too carried away, although, there’s essential context that comes with this knowledge: The NGF isn’t speaking about complete rounds performed. These golfers who’re 50-plus and 65-plus are prone to play extra often (and spend extra freely) than their youthful golf counterparts, so in case your course isn’t flooded all day, day-after-day by 20-somethings, don’t be stunned. However presumably when right now’s younger golfers grow old they, too, will liberate time for extra rounds. After which we’ll hope these behind them take up the sport, too.

No matter age bracket you fall in, right here’s hoping you rep it this weekend at a course close to you.

You could find extra enjoyable NGF info and figures right here.

Dylan Dethier

Golf.com Editor

Dylan Dethier is a senior author for GOLF Journal/GOLF.com. The Williamstown, Mass. native joined GOLF in 2017 after two years scuffling on the mini-tours. Dethier is a graduate of Williams School, the place he majored in English, and he’s the creator of 18 in America, which particulars the yr he spent as an 18-year-old dwelling from his automotive and taking part in a spherical of golf in each state.