Suppose golfers are previous? 1 stat might shock you

Regardless that 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 towards its longtime fame — specifically, that it’s a sport for previous codgers.

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

(Additionally, for the older golfers who could also be studying this: I believe you’re nice! Most of you aren’t “codgers,” you taught my era the sport, you’re nonetheless its spine, you’re a core shopper, it is best to proceed to play as typically as you’ll be able to and, by doing so, you’re the truth is reaping some epic well being advantages that your non-golfing counterparts will not be. Preserve swinging.)

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

Torrid tee-time traits have continued for the fifth consecutive 12 months; the post-Covid golf growth has introduced new gamers to the sport and people already taking part in are doing so extra typically. In line with the Nationwide Golf Basis, which retains monitor of all kinds of fascinating trade info and figures, 2024 is on monitor to be the fifth consecutive 12 months that greater than 500 million rounds shall be performed throughout the US’ 15,000-plus golf programs.

Final 12 months, 2023, set a file for probably the most play of all time. And this 12 months? Golfers are taking part in even extra. By way of August, year-to-date play was up 1.4 % over 2023’s record-setting tempo. Whereas it’s sensible to not get too caught up within the particular proportion factors — stuff like precipitation or heat climate can skew these numbers from 12 months to 12 months — 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 folks performed golf on a course (18.4 million extra performed “off-course” at a simulator, Topgolf or comparable location)

-From 2020 by way of 2023, the variety of on-course golfers within the U.S. rose by practically 2.3 million folks

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

-Previously 10 years, golf participation amongst these 65 and older has elevated by 64 %

I believe I converse for many golfers once I say that it’s nice extra persons are taking part in golf (so long as you’ll be able to nonetheless get a tee time). It’s nice that youthful persons are taking part in extra golf. And it’s nice that older persons are taking part in extra golf, too. However regardless of that ultimate 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 under: There are 3.5 million junior golfers (6-17 years previous), 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 particular person to explain the common golfer, I guess they’re extra more likely to describe somebody 65-plus than sub-35. But it surely 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 % of his fellow golfers.

Earlier than we get too carried away, although, there’s necessary context that comes with this information: The NGF isn’t speaking about complete rounds performed. These golfers who’re 50-plus and 65-plus are more likely to play extra incessantly (and spend extra freely) than their youthful golf counterparts, so in case your course isn’t flooded all day, every single day by 20-somethings, don’t be stunned. However presumably when as we speak’s younger golfers grow old they, too, will release 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 Faculty, the place he majored in English, and he’s the writer of 18 in America, which particulars the 12 months he spent as an 18-year-old dwelling from his automotive and taking part in a spherical of golf in each state.