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While much attention is given to municipal and public golf courses, which are, after all, where the bulk of all play takes place (an estimated 92 percent, according to this figure), private courses are also bringing in economic impact.
In fact, according to a study conducted jointly by Club Benchmarking, the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) and the National Club Association (NCA), private golf clubs collectively generated $32.6 billion in direct revenue in 2023, supported a $17.4 billion payroll and employed 573,000 workers, underscoring private clubs as vital contributors to the national and local U.S. economies.
The Golf Wire notes, “With 2025 shaping up as potentially yet another record-setting year for rounds, it’s notable that private play is up more than 3 percent year-over-year versus a little over 1 percent at public courses.”
Additionally, The Golf Wire states that “operator and anecdotal feedback suggest member rosters and waiting lists at many popular and well-positioned private clubs across the nation have swelled given the 16 percent increase in golf participation in recent years, with notable increases across the board in terms of demographic diversity.”
Private clubs offer full-time, part-time and seasonal work for individuals, in areas directly related to courses (grounds maintenance or being an on-course pro, for example), as well as in those tangentially related (working in club restaurants, working in the pro shop, etc.), all of which adds up to economic impact. Other sectors mentioned were insurance, laundry services and construction. Spending continues its ripple effect through employees who patronize businesses in their local communities.
Many factors are seen as contributing to this figure, not the least of which is the fact that players who gravitate toward private clubs have higher incomes and are willing to spend more at pro shops for lessons, equipment and apparel.
While private clubs can be found nationwide, certain regions and states do seem to have cornered the market, as it were. The Southeast boasts the largest concentration of private golf clubs among U.S. regions, driven by Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Florida has the highest number of private golf clubs, contributing significantly to regional and national economies.
The Economic Impact of Golf Travel Among Private Club Members
Private club members, note various surveys, also are more likely to travel, not just nationally but internationally to play golf, giving rise to the golf vacation; in fact, the economy for this is expected to hit $41.2 billion by 2030.
Many golf-specific trips, whether to participate in tournaments (such as amateur or pro-am tournaments), to be a spectator (at PGA TOUR or LPGA events), to play alone or to golf with friends (sometimes for just a getaway, sometimes for a specific reason such as a bachelor party weekend), golf travel is an enormous economic driver among private course members. According to this article, experiential travel is a key driver in the sports market.
Adds the National Golf Foundation, “Whether buddy trips, couples’ weekends, short getaways or destination golf experiences, more than 12 million Americans have traveled to play golf each year since 2022, up from an estimated 8.2 million in 2018. This appetite not only highlights golf’s popularity but mirrors a broader societal trend toward experiential pursuits. And it’s being driven especially by the allure of aspirational courses and bucket-list destinations. Over the past five years, more than 40 percent of new golf course openings have had resort ties or can be considered “destination” locations where golf is the prime focus.”
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