The future of golf is teeing it up right now, and the numbers are extraordinary. Junior golf participation in the United States has surged 58% since 2019 — the largest gain of any age group in the sport. Close to 4 million kids ages 6 through 17 played golf on a course in 2025, the […]
The future of golf is teeing it up right now, and the numbers are extraordinary. Junior golf participation in the United States has surged 58% since 2019 — the largest gain of any age group in the sport. Close to 4 million kids ages 6 through 17 played golf on a course in 2025, the most since 2004. The game hasn’t been this young in over two decades.
The Surge in Numbers
The National Golf Foundation’s data tells a compelling story. Junior participation growth has been sustained over several years — not a pandemic blip. Programs that removed financial and access barriers have been central to this success: Youth on Course offers $5 green fees at over 1,500 courses nationwide; First Tee combines golf instruction with life skills education; and LPGA-USGA Girls Golf has been particularly effective at bringing girls into the game for the first time.
Girls Are Leading the Way
Today, 35% of junior golfers are girls — up from just 15% in 2000. That’s a generational transformation. The golf culture these young women are growing up in is more inclusive and welcoming than the one their parents experienced. It also means the future adult golfer population will be more diverse — a long-term positive for the sport’s health and sustainability.
Junior Golf in Texas
Texas is one of the premier states for junior golf development. The Texas Golf Association runs an extensive junior program with events statewide. First Tee has chapters in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin — giving kids in every major metro access to the game regardless of economic background. U.S. Kids Golf runs Texas Opens drawing hundreds of young players annually. The infrastructure is world-class, and participation is following.
What Texas Golfers Can Do
Take a junior to the course. Volunteer at a First Tee chapter. Advocate for affordable junior green fees at your home facility. The kids who pick up a club today are the playing partners, club members, and golf consumers of 2035 and beyond. Investing in junior golf now pays dividends for the entire Texas golf ecosystem for decades to come.
