U.S. Core Golfer Number Adjusted Up

National Golf Foundation has adjusted the number of golfers it defines as "core golfers." Tracking the activity of adult core golfers (those who play eight or more rounds per year) is important because core golfers make up 87% of the total rounds volume in the U.S. per year.

In 2006, the NGF counted 12.5 million core golfers in the U.S. However, according to NGF President Joe Beditz, following a methodology change from paper-and-pencil surveys to online surveys, it seems there are more core golfers out there than we knew—20% more. The new U.S. core golf figure has been adjusted to 15 million.

The methodology change coincided with NGF joining the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association and joining with two other trade associations to participate in joint market research. This change allowed for finer survey detail and larger respondent sample sizes. One unintended result: super-infrequent golfers fell through the cracks of the new methodology. Apparently, these golfers are less likely to self-identify in surveys that are not specifically about golf.

The biggest competition for golf leisure time across all age groups? Watching TV or movies, followed by Internet surfing for fun and playing video games. Hmm, if there were only a way to combine Internet surfing, TV, and golf. Hey, that gives us an idea.