The number of golfers playing on- and off-course grew 10 percent last year to 41.1 million from 37.5 million in 2021, according to the National Golf Foundation. The gains came from off-course participation.
Traditional, on-course participation was up again in 2022, with a net increase of 500,000 golfers, or 2 percent, to 25.6 million. On-course participation saw a net gain of 1.3 million golfers over the past three years, marking the fifth straight year of green grass participation increases.
Off-course participation rose 13 percent to 27.9 million, marking the first time off-course players eclipsed those who play on the course. While the year was up for participation, the rounds played finished the year on a low note.
National rounds played on U.S. golf courses were down 26 percent in December as the year-ago period was boosted by an unseasonably warm December, according to Golf Datatech. Overall play for 2022 was down 3.7 percent compared to the previous year’s record-setting numbers.
By region in December, golf rounds played were down 71.3 percent in West North Central; 60.5 percent in East North Central; 44.7 percent in Mid Atlantic, 32.0 percent in South Central; 27.2 percent in New England, 25.7 percent in South Atlantic, 12.7 percent in Mountain, and 5.9 percent in Pacific.
