Everyone talks about the growth of golf, but if you check the stats, it’s youth golf where the biggest boom is coming from, with info from the National Golf Foundation showing that 48.1 million Americans ages 6+ played golf in 2025 – both on-course and off-course.
So while Tiger Woods isn’t in his prime anymore — the guy who’s likely the reason 40-something-year-old guys like me play golf — the next generation of golfers are finding other role models and reasons to play.
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But what’s the biggest motivation factor? Thanks to some data from Youth on Course — a nonprofit that provides youth golfers access to life-changing opportunities through the sport, who I’ve worked with now for a couple of years as an ambassador — we have a clearer idea.
How Youth on Course Supports Mental Health Through Golf
Sure, most of us think of playing golf as a positive for our well-being, but most of the time we associate it with good physical health thanks to the long walks around courses. But Youth on Course’s data found that most young golfers are braking into the sport due to the positive impact on their mental health — which is fitting, considering May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
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According to info gathered from Youth on Course’s members, here’s how the sport is impacting their community’s mental well-being.
41.4 percent built friendships or social connections through golf
32.1 percent felt like they belonged in the golf community
27.1 percent said their mental health improved
18.8 percent felt more emotionally balanced or better able to manage feelings
Most parents worry about the cell phone or tablet pandemic — which centers around the increased usage of these devices in young kids — but Youth on Course’s mission is to positively help kids connect through golf… and it’s obviously working!
Whether it’s getting outside, competing amongst friends, meeting new people, or learning how to deal with both the good and the bad shots (as all golfers need to do), Youth on Course is giving opportunities for young kids to reduce anxiety and depression.
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Said Youth on Course member Kevin Dunn from Astoria, Ore., “before this I had nothing I was interested in and I had no goals. Thanks to this program I have realized what makes my heart beat, I’ve realized what makes me happy. And without this program I’m not sure if I ever would have made this discovery.”
In 2025 alone, Youth on Course members played 1.52 million rounds of golf, spent 4.6 million hours outside on a golf course, and walked a whopping 5.7 million miles on the course. As they continue to give access to young golfers in 2026 and beyond, it’ll be fun to see how many more players break into the game — while building communities with peers because of it.
Craving more golf swing tips and golf instruction? Be sure to follow Nick Dimengo on Instagram, and subscribe to Rainmakers Golf on YouTube for more relatable swing advice to help your game improve.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Golf section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.