Golf 20/20, a collaboration of the game’s leading organizations – including ASGCA – reports that golf’s overall economic impact in the U.S. was $68.8 billion in 2011.
The figure comes from a study conducted by SRI International that focused on several core segments (golf facility operations, golf course capital investment, golfer supplies, tournaments and associations, and charities) as well as enabled categories (real estate, hospitality and tourism).
When indirect and induced economic activity driven by golf is added, the total impact reaches $176.8 billion.
“The economy has endured two significant recessions the past decade, and golf has fared well,” says Steve Mona, the CEO of the World Golf Foundation, the administrator of Golf 20/20. “The health and growth of the game has a direct bearing on jobs, commerce, economic development and tax revenues for U.S. communities and industries.”
The survey also revealed several other key facts about the industry:
- 1.98 million jobs
- $55.6 billion in wage income
- 25.7 million golf participants
- 15,571 traditional golf facilities
Golf 20/20’s economic impact report comes on the heels of a similar report that revealed the game’s charitable impact of $3.9 billion.