Launched in 2020, the grants program – through its latest round of funding – is distributing $500,000 to grassroots organizations nationwide, bringing the total program investment to $3 million over six years.The grants program was established to support organizations and programs that are strengthening golf by opening doors and inviting more people from historically underrepresented groups to experience the sport, including Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous communities, as well as women, LGBTQI+ individuals, Veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
This collective industry effort is showing meaningful results. According to the National Golf Foundation, golf participation reached 47.2 million Americans in 2024 – a 50% increase over the past decade. Ethnically diverse participation has grown, increasing 44% since 2020, with 6.9 million ethnically diverse people playing on-course golf in 2024, and for the first time, representing a quarter of all on-course players.
Female participation has similarly grown, with 7.9 million women playing on-course golf in 2024 – a 41% increase since 2019. Women now account for 28% of all on-course participants and represent more than 60% of golf’s participation gains since 2019.
“Golf is an important aspect of our country and our communities, contributing to the economy as well as the well-being of people who get involved,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of American Golf Industry Coalition, a division of World Golf Foundation. “These grassroots organizations are doing incredible work to ensure golf is accessible and inviting to people from all backgrounds, identities and abilities. Thank you to our partners who are investing in golf’s future through this program.”
Seven organizations have demonstrated exceptional commitment to inclusive golf programming by receiving grants funding in each of the program’s six cycles: FairWays to Leadership, Golf. My Future. My Game., Greater Cleveland Junior Golf Scholarship Fund, Jackson Park Golf Association, Par Excellence Youth Development, Women in Golf Foundation, and Women of Color Golf.
The grants program is administered by American Golf Industry Coalition and made possible through the generous support of industry partners. Make Golf Your Thing was launched in 2020 as a multi-faceted, multi-year initiative that reflects the industry’s commitment to ensure the future of golf remains open to everyone.
The initiative supports grassroots organizations working to welcome new participants to golf while building pathways for long-term engagement with the sport. Learn more at MakeGolfYourThing.org.
For a complete list of grants recipients, visit www.golfcoalition.org/grassrootsgrants.
