Frequently Asked Questions

How many golfers are there in the U.S.? There are 26.2 million golfers age 18 and over in the U.S. Just under 24% or approximately 6.3 million are avid golfers (they play 25 or more rounds a year). How many women golfers are there? There are 5.76 million female golfers which make up 22% of the US golfer population. How many golf courses are there in the U.S.? As of December 31, 2002 there were a total of 15,827 golf facilities in the U.S. This includes regulation, par-3 and executive length courses. Seventy two per cent, or some 11,501 of these facilities are open to the public. A golf facility is a complex containing at least one golf course. Another way to look at golf supply is in 18-hole equivalents (the number of holes divided by 18). As of year-end 2002, there were 14,725 18-hole equivalents (or 265,050 holes). The ten states having the most golf courses: Florida (1,261) California (1007) Michigan (971) Texas (906) New York (886) Ohio (820) Pennsylvania (751) Illinois (725) North Carolina (603) Wisconsin (522) The ten states having the most public access courses: Michigan (850) Florida (825) California (708) New York (662) Ohio (641) Texas (638) Illinois (547) Pennsylvania (529) Wisconsin (495) Minnesota (470) How much do golfers spend? The National Golf Foundation has released its 2002 golfer spending report. Golfers spent $24.3 billion in 2002 on equipment and fees. They spent $19.7 billion on green fees and dues in 2002, which accounted for 81% of all spending and $4.7 billion on golf equipment & accessories purchases (20% of the total). Avid golfers (25+ rounds annually), although a small player segment (23%), accounted for 63% of all golf-related spending in 2002. I've been told that most golfers can't break 90. Is this true? This is true. NFG research shows that only 22% of all golfers regularly score better than 90 for 18 holes on a regulation length course. For females, the percentage drops to 7%, and for males it goes up to 25%. The average 18-hole score on a full-size course is 97 for men and 114 for women. It's an even 100 for all golfers. Only 6% of the men and 1% of the women say they break 80 regularly. Which PGA TOUR player has won the most Major titles? Jack Nicklaus has won a total of 18 Majors: 6 Masters: 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986 (runner-up 4 times) 4 U.S. Opens: 1962, 1967, 1972, 1980 (runner-up 4 times) 3 British Opens: 1966, 1970, 1978 (runner-up 7 times) 5 PGA Championships: 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980 (runner-up 4 times) Which Tour player has won the most official Tour events (career)? That is a very interesting question, especially since you didn't specify which Tour. Kathy Whitworth has 88 official Tour victories (LPGA), which is an all-time record for both men's and women's U.S. Tours. Sam Snead has 81 official Tour victories which is the record for the PGA Tour. What is the record for most strokes under par for a 72-hole event on the PGA Tour? 31 by Ernie Els, in shooting 261 (64-65-65-67), to win the 2003 Mercedes Championship. Who holds the record for the most consecutive PGA Tour victories? Byron Nelson had 11 consecutive wins in the 1945 season. Which PGA Tour player holds the record for the most wins in a calendar year? Byron Nelson holds the record with 18 official PGA Tour victories in 1945. What is the most official money won by a Tour player in their rookie season? Paula Creamer won $1,531,780 in 2005 on the LPGA Tour. Carlos Franco won $1,864,584 in 1999 on the PGA Tour.