Golf Simulator Statistics 2026: 25 Key Data Points
By Divotloft . 7 min read . Updated June 2026
Golf is in the middle of a structural shift, and the simulator is at the center of it. This page collects 25 of the most useful, fully sourced statistics on the golf and golf-simulator landscape: how many Americans play off-course versus on a real course, how fast simulator golf is growing, who the new off-course players are, and how large the simulator and launch-monitor markets have become. Every figure below names its source and year so you can cite it with confidence. The data spans recent reporting from the National Golf Foundation, the Indoor Golf Alliance, major market researchers, and Topgolf Callaway Brands.
The short answer
A record 47.2 million Americans played golf in 2024, and 36.2 million of them played off-course at simulators and golf entertainment venues, exceeding on-course play for the third straight year. The global golf simulator market is around 1.74 billion dollars and growing 9.4 percent a year toward 2.9 billion by 2030, and the off-course game is markedly more diverse, with women making up 43 percent of exclusively off-course players.
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Golf participation is at a record high
The game is bigger than it has ever been. As reported by Andalucia Golf citing the National Golf Foundation, a record 47.2 million Americans played golf, on- or off-course, in 2024. That total was up 5 percent over 2023, per Front Office Sports citing the NGF, and up 38 percent versus the pre-pandemic 2019 baseline.
On-course golf is healthy too. The National Golf Foundation reports 28.1 million Americans played on an actual course in 2024, a post-2008 high, after adding about 1.5 million on-course players, the largest single-year gain since 2000. US golfers played 545 million rounds in 2024.
Off-course and simulator golf now lead
The fastest-growing part of the game happens indoors. Per Front Office Sports citing the National Golf Foundation, 36.2 million Americans played off-course in 2024 at simulators and golf-entertainment venues, up 10 percent from 2023. Of those, 19.1 million played golf exclusively off-course.
That shift is now durable. The NGF data, via Front Office Sports, shows off-course participation exceeded on-course play for the third consecutive year in 2024. Latent demand is large too: the NGF reports more than 28 million non-golfers say they are very interested in golf entertainment or simulator golf.
Who plays off-course: a more diverse game
Simulator and venue golf is reaching players the traditional game has struggled to. The National Golf Foundation reports that among the 19 million-plus Americans who play golf exclusively off-course, 43 percent are women and 45 percent are people of color.
Women are growing on the course too. The NGF reports women made up 28 percent of all on-course golfers in 2024, an all-time high. Youth participation has surged, up 48 percent since 2020 per Andalucia Golf citing the NGF.
The simulator and launch-monitor market
The hardware market behind all this is sizable and growing fast. Grand View Research, as reproduced by Pioneer Golf Co., sizes the global golf simulator market at 1.74 billion dollars in 2024, projecting 2.9 billion dollars by 2030 at a 9.4 percent CAGR, with North America holding over 46 percent of the market. Global Market Insights projects the market reaching 4 billion dollars by 2034.
The launch monitor, the heart of any home setup, is its own growing category. Reports and Insights sizes the global golf launch monitor market at 230.5 million dollars in 2024, projecting 373.2 million by 2033 at a 5.5 percent CAGR. The right monitor anchors a home bay, which is why we rank options like the SkyTrak ST MAX Launch Monitor for accuracy at a realistic home budget.
SkyTrak ST MAX Launch Monitor
SkyTrak's current flagship photometric launch monitor with dual Doppler radar, dual USB-C ports for simultaneous charging and play, and integrated speed training powered by GOLFTEC, priced at $2,995.
The economics of indoor golf
Commercial simulator golf is scaling, which pulls hardware prices and quality in consumers favor. The Indoor Golf Alliance, citing the National Golf Foundation, reports that about 6.5 percent of US golf facilities currently have simulators, with 10 to 11 percent expected within one to two years, and puts the average all-in capital cost per commercial simulator bay near 45,000 dollars.
The venue side is a billion-dollar business on its own. Topgolf Callaway Brands reported 100 owned-and-operated Topgolf venues at the end of 2024 and 1,809.4 million dollars in full-year Topgolf segment revenue.
Sources
National Golf Foundation, golf participation and off-course reporting, 2024 and 2025, including coverage by Andalucia Golf and Front Office Sports.
Grand View Research, Golf Simulator Market, 2024, as reproduced by Pioneer Golf Co. Global Market Insights, Golf Simulator Market.
Reports and Insights, Golf Launch Monitor Market, 2024.
Indoor Golf Alliance, citing the National Golf Foundation 2025 simulator white paper.
Topgolf Callaway Brands, Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results, via PR Newswire.
Featured in this guide
SkyTrak ST MAX Launch Monitor
SkyTrak's current flagship photometric launch monitor with dual Doppler radar, dual USB-C ports for simultaneous charging and play, and integrated speed training powered by GOLFTEC, priced at $2,995.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How many people play golf simulators?+
In 2024, 36.2 million Americans played golf off-course at simulators and golf-entertainment venues, up 10 percent from 2023, according to the National Golf Foundation as reported by Front Office Sports. Of those, 19.1 million played golf exclusively off-course, never setting foot on a traditional course.
Is simulator golf growing in 2026?+
Yes. Off-course golf participation has exceeded on-course play for three straight years, and the global golf simulator market is projected to grow from about 1.74 billion dollars in 2024 to 2.9 billion by 2030 at a 9.4 percent annual rate. More than 28 million non-golfers say they are very interested in trying simulator or entertainment golf.
How big is the golf simulator market?+
Grand View Research sizes the global golf simulator market at about 1.74 billion dollars in 2024, projected to reach 2.9 billion by 2030, with North America holding over 46 percent of it. The golf launch monitor segment alone is about 230.5 million dollars and growing at 5.5 percent a year.
Are simulator golfers more diverse than traditional golfers?+
Yes, considerably. Among Americans who play golf exclusively off-course, the National Golf Foundation reports 43 percent are women and 45 percent are people of color, well above the on-course figures. Women reached an all-time-high 28 percent of on-course golfers in 2024.
How much does a commercial golf simulator bay cost?+
The Indoor Golf Alliance, citing the National Golf Foundation, puts the average all-in capital cost per commercial simulator bay near 45,000 dollars. Home setups span a much wider range, with the launch monitor typically the largest single cost.