While it seems that golf-related meetings are coming back into the fold, questions remain. What are the real numbers? Who is playing golf? How are demographics changing in the sport?
Here is a breakdown of the numbers from the American Express Business Insights 2011 Spend Sights Special Report: US Golf Spending.
- Businesses are spending more on golf, but are not spending it at pre-recession levels (circa January 2007–December 2007). Year-over-year growth for small businesses in early 2011 was 1 percent, and for large businesses was 4 percent.
- There has been some growth in the last year, but from early 2007 to early 2011 golf spend decreased 25 percent and 35 percent for small and large businesses, respectively.
- The worst time for golf spending by corporations was the second quarter of 2009. It was during that period that small businesses spent 18 percent less on golf and large businesses spent 30 percent less on the sport.
- 49 percent of U.S. golf spending takes place in California, Texas, Florida, New York and Georgia.
- South Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia and Michigan experienced golf spend increases from 2009 to 2010 of 40 percent, 10 percent, 5 percent and 5 percent, respectively.
- In almost every quarter since early 2008, Millennials have increased golf spending, while Baby Boomers have decreased golf spending
- Millennials account for only 1 percent of total golf spend, whereas Baby Boomers make up 56 percent of the spending on the sport.
