Golf retail sales comprise golf balls , bags , gloves , clubs , shoes , apparel and other equipment . NGF estimates that golfers spent $ 55.7 million on consumer purchases used primarily for golf in Maine in 2023 . These items were purchased at golf courses and other golf retail outlets , including specialty stores , sporting goods stores , mass merchants and online . An estimated 24 % of these purchases are presumed to be made at oncourse retail outlets ( pro shops ) that were counted previously in the economic estimate from golf course operations .
The economic value created by golfer supplies consists of three components : ( 1 ) manufacturing cost of materials ; ( 2 ) manufacturing value added ; and ( 3 ) retailer ’ s net revenue from sales . Maine includes significant manufacturers of golf-related supplies in the State , leading to important contributions from items # 1 and # 2 above .
GOLF RETAIL IMPACT
Consumer purchases of golf apparel , equipment , and shoes drive significant economic activity . Maine off-course retailers earned a $ 18.2 million margin on $ 42.0 million of off-course gross retail sales of golf retail in 2023 ( NGF previously estimated $ 13.6 million in on-course retail ).
Total Retail Sales6
Total U . S . Sales Volume
($ Millions )
Value Attributed to Maine
($ Millions )
Clubs $ 2,993.30 $ 21.70 Balls $ 1,250.70 $ 9.07 Bags / Gloves / Shoes $ 1,369.50 $ 9.93 Other Equipment $ 561.30 $ 4.07 Apparel $ 1,500.00 $ 10.88 Total $ 7,674.80 $ 55.65
% Attributed to On-Course Retail
45 % 24 %
Net Total Off-Course Retail $ 4,213.47 $ 42.02 Retail Sales Margin % 7 43.6 % 43.6 %
Off-Course Retail Sales Total ( Margin ) Manufacturing Out of State Shipments ( Value Added )
$ 1,837.07 $ 18.32
APPROACH
What is Measured
This segment captures the net revenue ( known as retail margin ) that accrues to Maine retailers from spending by golfers on golf equipment , golf shoes , and golf apparel . Like golfers , golf facilities also make purchases of goods to facilitate the game and facility operations .
How it ’ s Measured
Data to calculate on-course and off-course retail spending on golf equipment , golf shoes , and golf apparel comes from the National Sporting Goods Association ’ s annual survey of 100,000 households6 . Sales for different categories of purchases are broken down by geographic region , and NGF estimated state-level sales to be . 73 % of the national total , based on Maine ’ s share of total golf holes in the U . S . ( 1,719 / 237,084 = . 73 %).
The estimation of economic impact is based upon the retail margin that accrues to Maine companies that sell golf equipment and apparel . The U . S . Census Bureau ’ s Annual Retail Trade Survey reports the retail margin for different industry sectors . NGF used the most recent retail margin available for sporting goods stores ( 43.6 % in 2021 ) to estimate the retail margin accruing to Maine companies . The retail margin is the net revenue accruing to the business after paying for the cost of goods from the wholesaler or manufacturer .
6 National Golf Foundation ( 2023 ), Irwin Broh Research and the Sporting Goods
Market : 2019 Edition . NSA- National Sporting Association 2019 7 US Census Annual Retail Trade Survey
The Contributions of Golf to the State of Maine | 2023 Impact Report 21