Golf Participation Continues Growth in 2025

EDINA, Minn. (December 22, 2025) – On behalf of its allied golf associations and its member golf clubs across the state, the Minnesota Golf Association has completed its annual facility rounds study to track golf participation in the state.

For the sixth time in the last seven years of collected data, golf facilities in Minnesota report an increase in golf rounds over the previous year, by nearly 2 percent.

Jeff May, director of enterprise operations for the Three Rivers Park District (TRPD) and general manager of Baker National Golf Course (BNGC) in Medina, attributed a longer-than-average golf season, Youth on Course Minnesota (YOC MN) participation and high demand for public-access tee times as factors contributing to the bump in rounds played year-over-year across all TRPD facilities (Cleary Lake, Eagle Lake, Glen Lake and Hyland Greens, in addition to BNGC). Additionally adds May, 2025 was the “best year” in terms of total rounds played for each of the TRPD golf courses.

“Over the past several years, we’ve seen sustained growth that reflects not just increased participation, but a meaningful influx of new golfers entering the game,” said Jon Mays, executive director and COO of the MGA. “What’s especially encouraging is that many of these golfers are discovering the sport for the first time and choosing to stay engaged, which speaks to golf’s growing relevance and accessibility in Minnesota.”

Likewise, the MGA, whose total membership tipped 111,000 golfers this year – including a record 25,649 YOC MN members, saw an increase in rounds posted of nearly 4 percent. ^†

The MGA surveyed 358 golf facilities around the state, with 93 facilities reporting rounds over the last six years in the following categories: municipal, (45.3 percent reporting); private, (41.9 percent); public daily fee, (26.1 percent); and resort, (27.3 percent).

^† The MGA has 111,652 adult and youth individual members for the period ending Oct. 31, 2025; MGA members posted 1,793,040 rounds for April through October of 2025, a 3.7 percent increase, YOY (the MGA score-posting season for handicap purposes begins April 1 and runs through October 31).  

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