Golf Datatech, the golf industry’s leading independent market research firm for retail sales, consumer and trade trends, has announced that US golf equipment sales reached the all-time greatest single month of retail sales total since the company started tracking data in 1997.
July’s total on- and off-course equipment sales of $388.6 million beat the next two all-time highest sales months ever of June 2007 ($368m) and June 2006 ($364m).
Four equipment categories – balls, irons, wedges and gloves also set all-time monthly sales records.
“Golf is surging through the COVID-19 pandemic, as it is a perfect outdoor social distancing recreational activity, and the retail results confirm what a lot of retailers and PGA Professionals have been feeling,” said John Krzynowek, Partner, Golf Datatech, LLC. “Hard goods have fared especially well, clear evidence that people are playing golf and spending on equipment.”
Krzynowek added: “July’s sales results were fantastic, considering everything that has transpired this year. And, while golf equipment retail sales still remain down in overall year-over-year sales, we’ve seen significant improvement since May, when they were down 31.4% year-to-date.
“While nothing is assured in the uncertain times we live in today, we are hopeful that the current upward trajectory will continue into the autumn, when things normally would slow down. However, this year we have the potential of very few youth activities, and curtailed travel for work and with the family, all of which might leave people at home with the opportunity to play more golf and buy more equipment.”