Forgive the cliché, but women’s golf is on the upswing. Everywhere you look in today’s game, amateur or professional, one sees growth and influence among the fairer sex. As Yogi would say, you could look it up: females are one of the fastest-growing golf demographics in the U.S.
Somewhere the Scottish shepherds who invented the game millennia ago by upturning their crooks and knocking rocks into rabbit holes near the seashore must be smiling.
Driving Change: Key Stats on Female Golf Participation
Because the numbers don’t lie, here are the latest statistics compiled by the National Golf Foundation (NGF):
- Females account for 39% of all beginners in the game.
- Young girls represent 35% of all junior golfers (ages 6 to 17).
- Of “off-course only” golfers—those who tee it up at driving ranges or simulators, etc.—females make up 43%.
- According to market research firm Golf Datatech, in 2024, women spent $2.14 billion on golf: $1.4 billion on gear, $747 million on apparel.
- Entries for the U.S. Women’s Amateur championship increased by 31.5% from 2014 to 2024.
As the editors of GOLF Magazine noted in a recent issue dedicated to women, “That’s not girl power. That’s…power.”
From a 75-Year-Old Tour to Today’s Inspiring Stars
How did an exclusionary, hidebound sport make such strides? Slowly, then rapidly.
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) was founded in 1950 by 13 trailblazers. What began as a barnstorming tour for homegrown players has mushroomed into a dynamic international league that attracts top athletes from around the world, providing a big stage (and big purses) for the finest women golfers on the planet. At present, players from over 40 countries, including ascendant stars from South Korea, Thailand and the U.S., are represented on tour. Talent, it turns out, has no boundaries. This year’s LPGA schedule features tournaments in 14 U.S. states and 12 countries, including two Asian swings and one in Europe. Total prize money for 2025? $131 million USD.
Twenty-six-year old Nelly Korda, the game’s No. 1 player, told GOLF Magazine that the most positive sign she’s observed on tour is seeing “all the golf dads, with their little girls and little boys” spending the day at an LPGA event. “One of the best things about doing what I do for a living is seeing how excited these kids get when they ask for an autograph,” Korda said. “They melt me a little bit.”
Outside the ropes, Korda has emerged as a crossover star. She walked the red carpet at the Met Gala in New York City in May and posed for Sports Illustrated’s 2025 swimsuit issue. A native of California, she also has an appealing social media presence. Clearly golf is not grandma’s game anymore.
Beyond the pro game is a powerhouse of female golf influencers who engage followers on social media–and drive growth and interest in the game. Numerous women (mostly young and attractive) have gained significant prominence in the golf segment via social media channels, including Instagram, TikTok, X and LinkedIn, where they showcase their skills, personalities and fashion styles.
Beyond Style: Females Dominate Golf’s Social Media Landscape
Here’s a short list of the leading female golf influencers:
- Paige SpiranacA model, golf instructor and former professional golfer who has gained fame (and a massive following) through her social media presence, Paige has 4 million Instagram admirers and 1.6 million on TikTok. Considered the No. 1 female golf influencer, she is now an icon in the golf community. Before turning pro, Paige, 32, played Division 1 golf at both the University of Arizona and San Diego State.
- Grace CharisOnly 24, Grace is a rising star known for her charming content and substantial following (3.7 million on Instagram and another 3 million on TikTok), which reportedly exceeds the social media reach of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau. A So Cal native, Grace shares golf course reviews, instruction tutorials and her on-course experiences. Like Spiranac, she built her online fame by wearing provocative outfits on the golf course. While not a pro, she carries a low single-digit handicap.NOTE: Charis’ success as a social media influencer has not come without criticism. Rory McIlroy dismissed both Charis and Spiranac, calling them “entertainment adjacent” and suggesting they are taking focus away from the real game.
- Tisha AlynA golf media personality, podcaster, speaker, model, dancer and trick-shot artist, Tisha, a star golfer at Cal State Fullerton who turned pro 10 years ago, has built a social media career around her enthusiasm for the game. Now 28, she’s a passionate advocate for junior golf, women’s sports and the LBGTQ+ community. Her mantra: “Trying to grow the game of golf one day at a time.”
- Aimee ChoA South-Korean-born former professional golfer who was a NCAA All-American at the University of Florida, Aimee is now an LPGA Class A teaching professional, a multimedia journalist for NBC4 Washington and a digital creator. Known for her online golf instruction content, Aimee, 41, has a large following on her YouTube channel and website.
- Blair O’NealThis 44-year-old golfer, model and TV personality was a fixture for years on The Golf Channel’s “School of Golf” show, which she co-hosted with British instructor Martin Hall. Blair is a former college star and a pro golfer with a beautiful swing who shares her relatable experiences (she’s a mom) and fashion choices on social media. She also hosts GLAM GOLF on GolfPass.
- Michelle Wie WestNow 35, Michelle is one of the most famous female golfers of all time, a teenage prodigy who turned pro just before her 16th birthday and who later won the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst. Over the years, this Hawaii native and Stanford grad has been a trailblazer for women’s golf, breaking barriers by competing in men’s events and advocating for the game’s growth. She now balances life as a mother, wife and entrepreneur. To her Instagram followers, she shares on-course moments, personal milestones—and her favorite recipes.
Better Food and Better-Looking Golf Styles
More than just breaking the mold, women are also changing the face of golf. For example, menus at golf clubhouses have changed dramatically in the past few years as women have requested and insisted on healthier choices. (Until fairly recently, nutritious salads were rarely available at many golf clubs).
Fashion choices have also improved dramatically. Years ago, the choices were limited. A bland shirt and a polyester skirt in a primary color was standard. Not anymore. Because today’s woman cares about how she looks on the course, top fashion brands now offer dresses, skirts, shorts and tops in figure-enhancing, synthetic fabrics that look great and perform even better.
