Golf Industry News - sport participation

The ‘Tiger Woods effect‘ is starting to show, as more American youngsters are taking up the sport. Participation among younger golfers (ages 7-17) has increased from 2.6 million in 1994 to 3.7 million in 1999, an increase of 42%. That is one of several conclusions drawn from an examination of key market research data published by the National Sporting Goods Association. On the other hand, ‘The myth that more women are playing golf is just that, a myth,’ said NSGA Vice President of Information & Research Thomas B. Doyle. ‘However, those women who are playing golf are much more serious about the sport, as their increased spending indicates.‘