The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - 2
GOLF CONSUMER
FRANCHISE
Baffling Golfer Base Growth
Continued in '23
By Jim Koppenhaver
D
espite the fact that we haven't yet cracked the code on the
3 barriers to trial, time, money and difficulty, the golfer
base continued its steady growth in '23 up 3% and once
again surpassing the 23M mark (which we last saw in '12 on our
way down to 20M). This marks the fourth successive year of
growth in the golfer base and suggests that some hidden forces
within the COVID surge in interest and trial remain in place
pushing the number of participants upward, long after the " COVID
factor " has receded.
Before I launch into the underlying elements of growth in the
golfer base, it's of interest to look at the baffling puzzle of a) why
2 The Pellucid PersPecTive
this growth is happening and b) what changed in the non-golfer
population's perception of golf and what they previously told us
in survey after survey. The initial, significant surge in golf participation
happened in '20 and '21 as COVID restrictions severely
narrowed the recreational and entertainment pursuits of the
population leaving golf as one of few surviving options. In the
midst of that, some number of people decided to try this outdoor
activity that provided social connection (real, not virtual) and had
some physical activity (carts)/exercise (walking) benefits. One
can only speculate that our " golf rookies " weren't overnight sensations
skill-wise, but they hit a couple of good shots and that's
June 2024
PHOTO BY PETER DREW ON UNSPLASH
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024
TOC
Baffling Golfer Base Growth Continued in ’23
Curating golfer characteristics and experiences; simply trendy or helpful?
Thin activity (9) continues, focus is on Transactions/Listings
May delivers setback with GPH -6%, Year-to-Date “resets” to flat (really, like 0%)
Apr Utilization basically flat at -1 pt (rounds, weather both up fractionally), Year-to-Date remains neutral at -1 pt
Pinehurst NC, host of upcoming US Open, destination golfer-driven with a “side” of local golfers
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - TOC
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - Baffling Golfer Base Growth Continued in ’23
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - 3
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - 4
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - 5
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - 6
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - Curating golfer characteristics and experiences; simply trendy or helpful?
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - 8
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - 9
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - Thin activity (9) continues, focus is on Transactions/Listings
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - 11
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - May delivers setback with GPH -6%, Year-to-Date “resets” to flat (really, like 0%)
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - 13
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - Apr Utilization basically flat at -1 pt (rounds, weather both up fractionally), Year-to-Date remains neutral at -1 pt
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - 15
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - Pinehurst NC, host of upcoming US Open, destination golfer-driven with a “side” of local golfers
The Pellucid Perspective - June 2024 - 17
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