Golf: an American pursuit of ‘Old Man Par’

Mark Twain once said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled,” but not if you ask the nearly 30 million Americans who play the game. According to a report by SGMA International, golf is the 15th most popular sport in the United States. Also worth noting is that overall golf participation has risen 12% since 1987, when there were 26.3 million players. However, those numbers are even more noteworthy when you consider that “frequent” participation (those players hitting the links 25 or more days per year) has risen 14% in recent years – from 7.5 million in 1999 to 8.6 million in 2001.

A review of the findings shows that nearly 60% of those “frequent” participants are over the age of 45; the average age of a “frequent” golfer is 47.7; and 80% of all “frequent” players have an average household income greater than $50,000 per year.

A further breakdown of the “frequent” participants by region illustrates that the South continues to be the hotbed for golf with 33% of the avid players. The North Central part of the country is next in line with over 2.1 million golfing regulars (25% of all “frequent” players), followed by the West and Northeast, which account for 22% and 19% of “frequent” golfers, respectively.

The study also found that golf is relished by a variety of people with varying educational backgrounds. The largest playing group is those with college degrees, comprising 42% of “frequent” participants. The next largest group is those with a high school degree or less, encompassing just over two million players or 24% of the “frequent” player base.

With 2001 sales of over $2.5 billion (wholesale), the golf equipment industry is the second largest category of sporting goods equipment, trailing only exercise equipment.

Additional information on SGMA International's golf participation data (as it relates to other sports and recreational activities) can be found in "SGMA's Profile of the Frequent Sports Participant." This definitive annual syndicated tracking study of U.S. sports participants concentrates on "frequent" sports participants' demographic profiles.

Also see: golf bags.

About The Author:

Wayne Guest is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-golf.com. A source of information on golf equipment, golf manufacturers, supplies, tips and more.