The golf scene is turning heads and catching everyone by surprise, but hey, who doesn’t love a good surprise when it means our beloved sport is thriving? Since 2016, golf participation has shot up by a whopping 34% globally, from 29.6 million to 39.6 million players, and guess what? The party’s still going strong. Meanwhile, most other “mainstay” team sports have been steadily decreasing in popularity year over year.
Since 2016, golf participation has shot up by a whopping 34% globally, from 29.6 million to 39.6 million players
This surge in golf participation isn’t just a blip on the radar; it’s bringing in masses of young golfers like never before. Once seen as an elitist, closed-off club sport, golf is now opening its doors wide, thanks to impactful initiatives that organizations like FirstTee and Youth on the Course have brought to the forefront.
We’ve all heard that golf is a lifelong journey. It’s something we can pick up in our youth, hone in our teens, and perfect in adulthood (well, maybe not “perfect” ever, but hey, we can dream!). It’s a beautiful game of constant improvement. But to take that next step, many players—and caddies—need scholarships to fuel their dreams.
In 2022, approximately 6,500 out of 20,000 collegiate golfers in the US were able to secure scholarship dollars to fuel their golf dreams, while 325 caddies out of 875 applicants proudly earned the title of Evans Scholars. With the sport booming, it’s important that scholarship opportunities continue to present themselves in the market to keep the momentum rolling and give more golfers and caddies a shot at their dreams.
In 2022, approximately 6,500 out of 20,000 collegiate golfers in the US were able to secure scholarship dollars
Getting the word out about golf scholarships isn’t always easy. Unlike some of the top-tier and well-known scholarships like the Evans Scholarship or PGA Scholarships, the smaller programs sometimes fly more under the radar.
But fear not, there are ways to spread the word:
- Create a strong landing page
- Team up with a scholarship marketplace
- Shoot out emails to partners
- Rally your crew to spread the word
- Hit up local bulletins or schools
Dive further into the golf scholarship promotional tips here: 5 Key Strategies for Promoting Your Golf Scholarship
Thinking about starting your own scholarship program? Here’s the lowdown:
- Determine scholarship amount
- Establish a 501(c)(3) status for tax exemption purposes
- Secure donors for funding
- Develop a management plan for the scholarship
- Promote it to potential applicants
- Conduct thorough reviews and select deserving recipients
- Disburse your funds accordingly
Dive further into how to start your own golfer or caddy scholarship here: Guide to Starting a Scholarship or Grant Program From Scratch
At the end of the day, this surge in golf isn’t just good news for the sport; it’s a game-changer for the next generation. So let’s keep the momentum going! If clubs, foundations, and golf-related businesses keep investing in our youth, we’ll see a whole new level of talent on the pro scene, more donors stepping up, and endless growth for years to come.
Learn more about how Kaleidoscope can help Golf organizations with their Scholarship Management.
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