New National Golf Foundation data shows Asian, Black, and Hispanic golfers growing faster than the U.S. population
More people of color are playing traditional on-course golf than at any point in the game's history, according to a June 2026 report from the National Golf Foundation (NGF).
The NGF's analysis, titled Golf's Most Diverse Era Yet, found that the number of Asian, Black, and Hispanic on-course golfers has climbed by nearly 40% since 2010. Over the same period, the non-White population of the United States grew by just over 30%, meaning golf's growth among these groups has outpaced the country's own demographic shift.
A record 7.7 million golfers
About 7.7 million Asian, Black, and Hispanic golfers played on a course in 2025, an industry high. They now account for 26% of traditional golfers, also a record.
The momentum has been strongest since the pandemic. The NGF reports a net gain of almost three million golfers of color in the post-Covid era.
Off-course golf is a growing on-ramp
The NGF also points to off-course golf, including entertainment venues and indoor simulators, as a driver of recent gains. Among people who play golf only in these formats, 45% are people of color. Interest in the traditional game is high as well: almost half (49%) of non-golfers who say they are very interested in trying green-grass golf are non-White.
The organization credits social media and off-course participation with making the game feel more relatable and approachable in recent years, building on the shift Tiger Woods helped set in motion more than three decades ago.
What it means for courses
For courses and clubs, the data points to a customer base that is changing in who it is and how it finds the game. Many newer players are arriving through simulators, entertainment venues, and social channels rather than through junior programs or family tradition, so first-time visitors may be less familiar with on-course conventions.
That puts a spotlight on the small touchpoints every golfer encounters, and few are as universal as the scorecard. It is typically the first printed piece a player picks up, and it carries the information newcomers most need: tee boxes, par, yardage, ratings, and a place to keep score. Clear color-coded tees, readable layouts, and a short scoring key can make that first round easier to navigate.
At SSG Golf Score Cards, that is a trend we are watching closely. As the golfer base grows and changes, the scorecard remains a simple, practical way for a course to show new players how its round works.
Source: National Golf Foundation, "Golf's Most Diverse Era Yet," June 12, 2026.
