The retail August 2023 sales numbers for US golf equipment are published this week by Golf Datatech. After 11 consecutive months of contracting sales thru the On/Off Course channels, total golf equipment grew by almost 3% in August, perhaps signaling a renewed expansion in sales as we head into the Fall.
US August 2023 Total Retail Sales for On and Off-Course Golf Stores
On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’22: Dollars +2.7%On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’19: Dollars +40.0%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’22: Dollars -1.5%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’19: Dollars +37.7%
Woods (+10%) and Balls (+8%) had the most significant improvements vs. the same month year ago, while Balls are the category with the highest increase YTD (+10%).
Golf equipment sales bounced back in August and were up for the first time in almost a year. After several months of relatively small but consistent declines, sales of balls, clubs, bags, shoes and gloves grew by 3%. On a YTD basis 2023 still trails ’22 by 1.5%, although we are 38% ahead of 2019, the last “normal” year before the pandemic.
On the latest figures, GDT co-founder and golf market research expert John Krzynowek commented, “The past few years have brought pandemics, lockdowns, supply chain breakdowns, economic uncertainty, followed by prosperity. We then saw the end of low interest rates, which many assumed would cause a recession. Through it all, golf participation, rounds played, and sales of equipment and apparel have surged. The game and the business of golf is in a good place as the summer of 2023 ends.”
Retail Sales Equipment Category Breakdown for August 2023
US August 2023 Retail Balls Market (On-Off Course): On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’22: Units +5.3%, Dollars +7.9%On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’19: Units +27.7%, Dollars +48.0%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’22: Units +6.5%, Dollars +10.2%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’19: Units +32.2%, Dollars +53.7%
US August 2023 Retail Gloves Market (On-Off Course): On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’22: Units -1.2%, Dollars +1.7%On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’19: Units +5.8%, Dollars +23.1%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’22: Units -2.3%, Dollars +1.2%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’19: Units +12.2%, Dollars +31.4%
US August 2023 Retail Shoes Market (On-Off Course): On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’22: Units -7.8%, Dollars -7.6%On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’19: Units -4.0%, Dollars +15.4%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’22: Units -10.5%, Dollars -8.8%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’19: Units -6.6%, Dollars +14.0%
US August 2023 Retail Bags Market (On-Off Course): On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’22: Units -0.2%, Dollars -1.2%On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’19: Units +30.3%, Dollars +65.2%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’22: Units -2.4%, Dollars -3.4%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’19: Units +22.0%, Dollars +55.2%
US August 2023 Retail Irons Market (On-Off Course): On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’22: Units +1.4%, Dollars +4.0%On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’19: Units +19.2%, Dollars +52.4%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’22: Units -8.8%, Dollars -6.2%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’19: Units +12.5%, Dollars +40.9%
US August 2023 Retail Woods Market (On-Off Course): On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’22: Units +5.6%, Dollars +9.7%On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’19: Units +23.0%, Dollars +40.5%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’22: Units -5.4%, Dollars -1.6%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’19: Units +16.0%, Dollars +31.9%
US August 2023 Retail Putters Market (On-Off Course): On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’22: Units +0.9%, Dollars -2.3%On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’19: Units +5.9%, Dollars +24.5%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’22: Units -1.9%, Dollars -1.2%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’19: Units +9.8%, Dollars +35.4%
US August 2023 Retail Wedges Market (On-Off Course): On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’22: Units -9.9%, Dollars -11.7%On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’19: Units +10.5%, Dollars +40.5%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’22: Units -4.6%, Dollars -5.5%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’19: Units +16.2%, Dollars +43.4%
US August 2023 Retail Distance Device Market (On-Off Course): On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’22: Units -8.0%, Dollars -5.1%On-Off Course August ’23 vs ’19: Units +12.6%, Dollars +16.3%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’22: Units -8.7%, Dollars -6.9%On-Off Course YTD ’23 vs ’19: Units +20.0%, Dollars +23.1%
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