Efforts to grow the popularity of golf among women are working, according to figures from increased participation in American Express Women’s Golf Month this year.
Participation increased 9.2 percent from last year, generating a projected $2.7 million in new revenue to the golf industry.
Program coordinators reported a combined median spend of $3,320 per facility by consumers after participating in Women's Golf Month activities. Organizers of the event estimate the month-long promotion had a positive economic impact on the golf industry of $4.7 million over the last two years.
Due to the success and increase in participants during Women's Golf Week in the first three years, organizers of the event extended the promotion through the entire month of June in 2008, giving golf facilities and its PGA and LPGA Professionals more flexibility in offering activities.
"Our goal for Women's Golf Month is to increase the percentage of women playing this great game and to have them discover the fun to be had on the golf course," says Anne Lyndrup, director of player development for the National Golf Course Owners Association and leader of the Women's Golf Month organizers. "We are anticipating an even greater number of courses offering clinics for new players around the country as we celebrate the fifth anniversary in June 2009."
More than 105,600 people across the country have been introduced or re-introduced to the game over the past four years during American Express Women's Golf Month, which premiered in 2005 as Women's Golf Week.
Aimed at increasing the participation of women in golf and making learning and playing golf fun, the number of participants has increased each year with a record 37,350 people attending Women's Golf Month events in 2008, a 293 percent increase since its inaugural year in 2005, when 225 facilities hosted 9,500 participants during Women's Golf Week.
Women's Golf Month seeks to provide women the opportunity to learn, re-learn or play golf in a fun and friendly environment. Participating golf facilities offered complimentary instruction and were encouraged to host other activities, such as networking receptions, golf rules and etiquette seminars, club fitting and equipment demonstrations, golf apparel fashion shows, luncheons, playing experiences and contests.
According to the 2007 National Golf Foundation Golf Participation Study, the number of women golfers in the U.S. has grown to 6.4 million, an 8 percent increase since 2002, including 926,000 junior girls ages 6-17 and 5.5 million women ages 18-years and older. And, of all new players to the game of golf in 2006, 63 percent were women, according to the PGA.
Since its inaugural year in 2005, there is a 437 percent increase in participating facilities and a 293 percent increase in participation.