Women and girls have been major contributors to the recent participation surges within the recreational game, as the number of U.S. golfers continues to climb toward record territory.

April play was up year-over-year, helping keep 2026 ahead of last year's record-setting pace for rounds heading into the peak months of the golf season.

Compared to pre-2020 (prior to the pandemic), golf league participants are notably younger and more diverse -- increasingly reflective of the broader population the industry has long sought to engage. This member sidebar delves into the demographic shifts of recreational golf league participation.

Rounds of golf for March remained relatively stable at a national level, with declines on the East Coast offset by West Coast gains driven by warm, dry weather.

2026 is shaping up to be another record-setting year for golf travel. Among adult golfers, one age group is leading the way (by a slight margin), accounting for almost one-third of destination-motivated golf trips.

Outside the current definition of "off-course participation," a number of golf-related activities that engage participants away from the golf course continue to grow. And they expand the game's reach, reinforce awareness, and help serve as a gateway to participation with other forms of off-course golf and even traditional, green-grass play.

The PopStroke concept is rooted in golf, with a growing portfolio of tech-enabled putting venues that blend golf with F&B and social experiences, but this modern golf entertainment version of mini golf isn't counted among NGF's off-course forms of participation. While PopStroke's owner acknowledges the platform exists adjacent to golf, he also sees its influence within the game's broader ecosystem.