Golf Datatech (GDT) reported that golf equipment sales posted an increase in on-and off-course specialty stores in August after 11 consecutive months of contracting sales. Total golf equipment sales reportedly grew by almost 3 percent for the month in the channel, which GDT said may signal a renewed expansion in sales as the business heads into the fall season.

Woods (+10 percent) and Balls (+8 percent) had the most significant improvements in August versus the year-ago period, while Balls are the category with the highest year-to-date (YTD) increase (+10 percent).

“The past few years have brought pandemics, lockdowns, supply chain breakdowns, economic uncertainty, followed by prosperity, offered GDT Co-Founder and golf market research expert John Krzynowek. “We then saw the end of low interest rates, which many assumed would cause a recession. Through it all, golf participation, rounds played, and sales of equipment and apparel have surged. The game and the business of golf is in a good place as the summer of 2023 ends.”

After several months of relatively small but consistent declines, Golf Equipment sales were up 2.7 percent year-over-year in the U.S. on- and off-course shops in August but still posted a 1.5 percent decline for the year-to-date (YTD) period. Still, the gains came in half the categories, namely Golf Balls, Golf Gloves, Irons and Woods, while Gloves, Shoes, Bags, Wedges, Putters and Distance Devices all posted declines in dollar sales for the month. Putters were up in unit sales despite the value decline.

Sales for the macro category were reportedly up 40.0 percent in august versus the August 2019 report and YTD sales up 37.7 percent compared to the comparable YTD period in 2019.

On a category basis, August year-over-year sales trends for U.S. On- and Off-Course shops were as follows:

  • Golf Balls: Units +5.3 percent, Dollars +7.9 percent
  • Golf Gloves: Units -1.2 percent, Dollars +1.7 percent
  • Golf Shoes: Units -7.8 percent, Dollars -7.6 percent
  • Golf Bags: Units -0.2 percent, Dollars -1.2 percent
  • Irons: Units +1.4 percent, Dollars +4.0 percent
  • Woods: Units +5.6 percent, Dollars +9.7 percent
  • Putters: Units +0.9 percent, Dollars -2.3 percent
  • Wedges: Units -9.9 percent, Dollars -11.7 percent
  • Distance Devices: Units -8.0 percent, Dollars -5.1 percent

For more information on trends in the golf specialty market, go here.

Photo courtesy Thomas Golf, data courtesy of Golf Datatech