Women and girls are fueling a significant shift in golf’s demographics, accounting for 60% of on-course growth since 2019, according to a new report from the National Golf Foundation.
Female participation has surged to 7.9 million — the highest on record and a sharp reversal from the declines that followed the 2008 financial crisis. From 2007 to 2011, female participation dropped 28%, compared to just 9% among men. But today, women represent 28% of on-course players, up from just 20% a decade ago. When factoring in off-course participation — including Topgolf, driving ranges and simulators — women now make up one-third of all U.S. golf participants.
Much of the growth is being driven by younger players. More than half of net gains have come from women under 30, and nearly half of all female on-course players are under 35. The average female golfer is four years younger than her male counterpart, bringing a new generation and fresh expectations into the sport.
“This isn’t just a statistic — it’s a measurable transformation happening nationwide,” the NGF noted in its report.
The impact is visible across courses. Nearly three-quarters of male core golfers say they’re either playing more with women or seeing more mixed groups. A majority of both men and women surveyed believe increasing female involvement is vital to the game’s long-term health.
Still, challenges remain. Women continue to lapse at higher rates than men, and beginner-to-core conversion remains less than half that of male newcomers. Many women surveyed also reported a lack of recognition or connection with golf brands — a loyalty gap that the NGF suggests is both a challenge and an opportunity.
Some companies are already adapting, the report noted, but long-term growth will depend on the industry’s ability to build on this momentum and recognize the cultural change underway.
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