Many emerging golf industry trends have taken off in recent times. The Covid-19 pandemic in particular has reshaped how many industries do business. Trends in the golf industry have taken a direction that some may not have predicted only a few years ago. New trends create new opportunities, so in this article, I will explore the latest industry trends in golf and how we can turn these trends into opportunities and overcome any challenges they might pose.
If we look back at pre-pandemic data, it appeared that the popularity of gold was on a slight decline with an aging demographic of participants in the sport and no real signs of growth. The pandemic, however, gave a new lease of life to the sport with many heading for the green as a way to stay active and healthy while also practicing social distancing. This boost of interest in the sport also came with opportunities for golf club owners to make their clubs more accessible and more diverse as they looked for ways to combat the struggles of covid-19.
Demographics in golf
If we take a look at the golf club industry trends in demographics, we see a different picture entirely from that of two years previous. In 2019, the average age of a golfer in the USA was 54. Fast forward to 2023 and it dropped to 45 in just 3 years. This is a sign that many more millennials and Gen Z players have joined the game. This is one of the golf club industry trends that club owners can capitalize on by providing a more social experience to the younger players from golf teams and embracing new technology to assist players with their game.
As well as younger players, there‘s a growing number of women in golf with female golfers making up over 28% of all golfers on the course. If we take a look at ‘off the course’ activities such as driving ranges, females make up 40% of all players. This will bring many opportunities for club owners and golfing brands to keep up with golf industry trends and diversify their offerings to accommodate this new demographic. We will start to see an increase in women’s fashion and also a range of equipment targeted at the female golfer.
Fashion in golf
Fashion overall in golf has always had a more ‘classical’ look, however, we can predict that with the younger demographics we are seeing, if the game of golf is to embrace these latest golf club industry trends, some things have to change. Young golfers today like to express themselves on the course and I would suggest that there will be an emergence of brighter, more colourful options than the tweed and tan you are used to seeing around the place. Nowadays, more and more shops customize team apparel such as golf shirts, jackets, and hats, outfitting college and high school golf teams from coast to coast.
Golfing Technology
Another one of the biggest trends in the golf industry is the use of new golf technology, not just in the professional game but also for recreational players too. As you have probably noticed if you play regularly, the use of GPS (Global Positioning System) devices has increased dramatically with most golfers having some kind of app on their smartphone to measure the distance to the pin, bunkers, or anything else they need to work out the distance of. There is also the rangefinder, a laser pointer in a box that doesn’t need a satellite signal to give you the information you need. Not all clubs allow the use of GPS and rangefinder devices so it’s always best to check with your club before turning up with a high-powered laser beam!
Golf equipment trends
Equipment used for golfing has also taken somewhat of an evolution over the years with putters, drivers, and woods all getting a revamp for 2023. New clubs designed to improve the game of the average player rather than catering only to the pro player are becoming increasingly popular with low spin drivers and game improvement irons being a popular choice among the new players to the sport. When it comes to woods, the fairway wood has had a bit of a facelift in recent times with manufacturers opting to re-distribute more of the weight to the sole of the club. This new weight distribution gives the player more launch and an increased movement of inertia (MOI). Fairway woods have become more playable for the wider golfing audience and they are now much more forgiving than in previous years.
These industry trends in golf look like they’re here to stay so keeping on top of them and understanding them is essential to keeping the growth of the sport on the increase. Building a social community around golf, embracing technology, and catering to the new breed of enthusiasts is going to be crucial in keeping them engaged and interested in the wonderful sport of golf.
Author Bio-
Ricky Patton
A 20-year corporate professional that caught the golf bug in college thanks to a local muni that was free for students and hasn’t looked back since. I’m a 9-handicap that can deliver birdies and double bogeys with equal flair. Long off the tee and a mess around the greens. Chasing down my golf bucket list one trip at a time and sharing insights at https://yourgolfspot.com