For a long time, golf didn’t feel like it was built for women. The dress codes were rigid, the culture felt like a “boys club,” and the version of the sport we saw didn't leave much room for new energy.
But somewhere between sunset nine-holers, post-round coffee runs, and group chats turning into tee times, things started to shift.
The future of golf doesn’t look like the past… and that’s a good thing. Women aren’t just joining the game. They’re reshaping it.
And now, the data is finally catching up to what many of us already know.
Women Are Driving Golf’s Growth
Since 2019, women and girls have accounted for roughly 60% of the growth in on-course golf participation. That’s not a fluke or a fleeting trend, it’s a fundamental shift in who the game is for and who is showing up.
Women aren’t just trying golf once. They’re sticking with it, building routines around it, and bringing friends along for the ride. Golf is becoming social, flexible, and welcoming in new ways… and women are leading that evolution.
The Next Generation Is Already Here
This growth isn’t being driven by retirees picking up a new hobby. It’s being led by younger players.
More than half of recent participation gains among women come from those under 30, and nearly half of all women playing traditional golf today are under 35. Compared to men, women are entering the game younger and shaping it earlier.
That shows up in how golf looks today:
Nine-hole rounds instead of all 18.
Twilight tee times over full-day commitments.
Music, conversation, and community baked into the experience.
Golf is fitting into women’s lives, not the other way around.
There’s Still So Much Room to Grow
Even with this momentum, we’re still at the beginning.
Millions of women have said they’re interested in trying golf but haven’t yet. Not because they don’t want to play, but because the sport hasn’t always felt accessible, welcoming, or designed with them in mind.
That gap represents one of the biggest opportunities in golf today. And it’s exactly where the future is headed.
Growth Without Recognition Is the Real Problem
Here’s the part we can’t ignore: despite driving participation and growth, many women still don’t feel recognized by the golf brands and businesses they support.
That disconnect is real. And it matters.
Golf doesn’t just need more women playing, it needs more women being considered. In product design. In marketing. In who gets to define what golf culture looks like in the first place.
At Sierra Madre, that’s the gap we’re building for. Because representation isn’t a “nice to have,” it’s how the game continues to grow.
So… What Does the Future Look Like?
It looks more inclusive.
More flexible.
More social.
More stylish.
The future of golf is female not because someone decided it should be, but because women showed up anyways. They created space where there wasn’t any. They made the game work for their lives. And now, the industry is finally paying attention.
We’re not waiting to be invited in.
We’re already here.
And we’re just getting started.
Sources
This post is informed by industry research and reporting from the National Golf Foundation, including:
These reports highlight the continued growth of women and girls in golf, shifts in age demographics, and the expanding opportunity to make the game more inclusive and accessible.