$ 141.2
Golf is a popular outdoor recreational activity that helps enhance Maine ’ s tourism industry through day and overnight trips , as well as extended vacations . NGF has identified a significant golf-travel industry – those people traveling to the state with the intention that golf will be a part of the trip in Maine . This finding was not at all surprising , as several locations in Maine are known for attracting tourist / seasonal golfers . Maine does offer a few top-quality golf resorts , including well-known facilities like Sunday River Golf Club , Sugarloaf Golf Club , and Samoset Resort . In addition , Maine attracts a significant share of golfers who live in nearby metro areas and travel here to play golf . The key out-of-state metro areas that NGF identified as feeding golf activity include Boston , Providence , and Hartford .
$ 117.2M
Golf Tourism
IMPACT
Tourism is one of the strongest economic drivers of Maine , providing a valuable source of revenue and jobs . In its 2022 Economic Impact & Tourism Report , the Maine Office of Tourism estimated Maine had about 15.4 million visitor spending more than $ 8.6 billion , and generating a total economic impact of $ 15.85 billion , including $ 1.24 million in state tax revenue .
According to NGF , traveling golfers spent $ 126 per trip on day trips and $ 1,211 per trip as overnight visitors ( excluding golf fees – already counted in golf facility revenue ). For 2023 , NGF estimates that the total economic impact of tourism resulting from people who travelled to Maine to play golf ** was $ 117.2 million :
Maine Golf-Related Tourism Expenditures – 2023
Day Trips
Overnight
Total Visitors 11 3,994,500 11,369,000 Golf Trip % 12 1.5 % 1.4 % Total Golf Trips 200,000 76,000
Average Spending per Trip ( less Golf Fees )*
$ 129 $ 914
Total Impact ($ Millions ) $ 25.2 $ 92.0
APPROACH
What is Measured
The golf tourism industry segment estimates the golf-related travel expenditures in which a person travels 50-plus miles and plays golf as a key recreational activity while on business or leisure travel . Golf-related trips include both overnight and day trips . This figure includes trips to Maine golf destinations , golf outings while on vacation or business travel , visits to Maine golf courses from golfers residing outside the state , as well as trips by Maine residents to play golf at courses in other parts of the state .
How it ’ s Measured
Data for this calculation comes from publicly available surveys and studies of visitors and visitor spending . The 2022 Economic Impact & Tourism Report from the Maine Office of Tourism was a key resource detailing total visitor counts ( by length of trip ), activities undertaken while in Maine , and average spending per trip .
TOTAL SPENDING FROM MAINE GOLF TRAVELERS
$ 24.0M
Spending at Golf Facilities
* Average spending excludes $ 103.05 ( overnight ) and $ 68.70 ( day trips ) for direct spending at golf facilities ( to avoid double counting – already counted in golf facility operations ).
This analysis shows how significant golf tourism is in Maine . When the money spent at golf facilities is included , it shows that the Maine golf travel market involves 276,000 golf travelers spending at least $ 141.2 million in 2023 ($ 511.63 per golf traveler ). The total Maine golf travel market is summarized to the right ( NOTE : the spending at golf facilities is included in Golf Facility Operations direct impact estimate ).
11 Maine Office of Tourism Report 2022 Economic Impact & Vistior Tracking Report ( VISITMAINE . COM ) 12 NGF Propretary Research
$ 23.8M
Other Local Spending
$ 117.2M
TOTAL NON-GOLF TOURISM SPEND
$ 141.2
$ 93.4M
Lodging , F & B , Entertainment , etc .
The Contributions of Golf to the State of Maine | 2023 Impact Report 29