Many sports feel like gated communities dominated by professional leagues and legacy media companies.
However, there is an outlier…
Golf has emerged as a proving ground for innovative entrepreneurs looking to make waves in the broader sports industry.
The combination of accessibility, diversity, and consumer passion makes golf the ultimate incubator for building a successful sports business.
Let’s Dive in ????
7 Reasons to Build in Golf
1. Easy Entry, Huge Potential
Sports like football, basketball, and baseball come with red tape — they’re controlled by big leagues, massive sponsorship deals, and tight-knit networks.
Breaking through these barriers requires serious capital and connections.
Golf is a different story.
The golf industry is decentralized and driven by everyday players, not just pros and leagues.
Recreational players comprise most of the market, meaning founders can go directly to the consumer.
According to the National Golf Foundation — over 45 million people played on-or-off-course golf last year.
Whether it’s launching a product, service, or software solution — you don’t need the approval of a league commissioner or a licensing deal with a major team.
Golf makes it easy to get in, validate your idea, and grow.
2. The Launchpad for Multi-Sport Growth
Golf is uniquely positioned as a starting point for companies aiming to scale into broader sports markets.
Its reliance on data, technology, and accessible revenue streams creates an ideal environment to refine products and build momentum.
Golf technologies like swing analyzers, GPS tools, and simulators can easily pivot to other sports like tennis, baseball, or soccer.
At the same time, golf’s decentralized industry allows startups to generate revenue early, providing the breathing room to plan their next move without the constraints of league-driven sports.
Brands like WHOOP and TrackMan proved the model: start in golf, perfect your offering, and expand into larger markets. This is the basis for building a billion-dollar sports company.
Golf isn’t just a niche—it’s a scalable foundation for multi-sport success.
3. The Diverse Golf Industry
Golf is more than 18 holes on a course.
It’s an ecosystem with endless entry points:
- Golf Entertainment: Simulator tech, putting lounges, and casual entertainment concepts like TopGolf and Five Iron Golf are redefining the sport for new audiences.
- Apparel and Lifestyle: Modern brands turn heads, blending sport and culture.
- Agronomy and Sustainability: Companies like TerraRad are innovating with the next-gen moisture monitoring tech for water conservation.
- Travel and Tourism: Startups are finding success in golf destinations that lack high-end accommodations for group travel.
Unlike other sports, where professional play dominates, golf thrives at the amateur and recreational levels.
This diversity gives founders more room to innovate and build.
4. Golf’s Loyal, Captive Audience
Golfers aren’t just casual fans — they’re obsessive consumers.
The average golfer spends thousands annually on gear, green fees, and memberships.
Most play for decades, creating a loyal, high-lifetime-value customer base.
And thanks to the rise of golf entertainment venues and simulators, a wave of “golf-curious” consumers is entering the market.
Golf’s overall reach last year was 123 million (up 30% since 2016).
Over 33% of the United States engaged with golf in some manner:
- Watched golf on TV
- Followed golf online
- Read about the game of golf
- Listened to a golf-related podcast
These new players, who may never set foot on a traditional course, represent a massive untapped opportunity.
If you build a company that supports these players and the broader ecosystem, you’re likely to retain them for years.
5. Disrupted Media, Endless Reach
Golf media is also having a moment.
The flattening of professional golf, partially driven by LIV’s disruption of the PGA TOUR, has widened the opening for new media (and from all angles).
Legacy broadcasters are being pushed aside by digital creators on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
For startups, this means there are more accessible platforms outside of traditional incumbent media to amplify reach to golf consumers.
Country clubs are also changing as well.
6. Golf is Winning GenZ & Alpha
Between 2019 and 2023, off-course junior golf participation skyrocketed by 82%, jumping from 2.2 million to 4 million.
On-course junior golfers saw a significant rise, with a 40% increase, adding 1 million new players.
The Aspen Institute has also named golf the fastest-growing sport among kids ages 13-17, with a 45% increase in participation between 2019 and 2022.
7. Investors Are Paying Attention
Investors see what founders realized…
Golf isn’t just a niche market—it’s a high-growth industry with real exit potential:
- Investment firms like Old Tom Capital enable hundreds of accredited investors access to deploy checks into golf startups through their syndicate.
- There are also institutional players like EP Golf Ventures (backed by Elysian Park Ventures and the PGA of America)
- Broader groups like 8AM and Brekky Golf are pouring capital into the golf ecosystem as well.
Follow the money, and it’s clear: golf is hot.
