The New Wave of Golf Participation Solidifies Need for More Scholarships

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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.