USGA Delivered Yearlong Impact
The USGA invests 100 percent of its revenue back into golf
In 2023, the USGA Delivered Yearlong impact investments and initiatives that greatly contributed to the growth and overall health of golf. This comes as part of its commitment to making an impact “for the good of the game.”
Mike Whan, the CEO of the USGA, noted that the organization was founded 129 years ago by a group of forward-thinking American golf clubs with the mission of providing a common set of rules, conducting national championships, and offering an unbiased perspective on the game’s future.
In pursuit of its mission as a nonprofit organization, the USGA invests 100% of its revenue back into golf, with a focus on unifying the game, showcasing its top talent, governing fairly and impartially, and advancing key issues that will ensure the continued strength and growth of golf at every level.
Through its broad-based initiatives, the USGA’s work impacts the more than 41 million people who play golf in the U.S. and those who work, volunteer, or are fans of the sport.
You never know where golf will take you.
Just ask Zindzi Frederick, who turned a summer caddie job into a scholarship to @UWMadison.
Learn more 👉 https://t.co/CTMbAnlkCK pic.twitter.com/6Nbx8a7XQl
— USGA (@USGA) December 23, 2023
Key highlights from 2023 include:
Golf Course Sustainability and Innovation
The GS3 smart golf ball has been launched, providing superintendents with more comprehensive data to enhance playing conditions. The device measures green speed, trueness, smoothness, and firmness, all through a single, user-friendly tool. This groundbreaking tool is the first of its kind in the golf industry and will revolutionize green management.
To advance water conservation on golf courses, a $1.2 million investment has been made, with around $500,000 being allocated to demonstration projects in collaboration with golf facilities in the Southwest. These projects are part of the USGA’s water resilience program, which was launched in 2023 with a 15-year commitment of $30 million to reduce golf’s water usage by up to 45%.
The University of California-Riverside has released two new bermudagrasses that will better retain their green color during the winter months and reduce the need for expensive and water-intensive overseeding, with the help of a $350,000 USGA Davis Grant.
Showcasing Golf’s Best Players
The U.S. National Development Program’s launch was a momentous occasion for American golf, as it established the nation’s first integrated pathway for identifying, training, cultivating, funding, and supporting the country’s most promising junior players. The program put together its staff and infrastructure, devised a comprehensive grant system to eliminate financial barriers, and conducted educational sessions for players and their parents in 2023.
The USGA witnessed a record number of entries for its national championships, with 47,928 individuals applying to compete in one of 15 events in 2023. This increase in participation is a testament to the growth in the competitive game. USGA championships also saw their highest digital reach and engagement, as well as an eight-year high in broadcast viewership in 2023.
Matt Kuchar in the ’97 U.S. Amateur pic.twitter.com/fx4J6t3YGq
— USGA (@USGA) December 23, 2023
The first-ever hosting of the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach was a significant catalyst for interest and awareness of women’s golf. The championship saw record highs in entries, digital consumption, and social media mentions, as well as the largest TV audience since 2014 and the biggest on-site fan attendance since 2015.
Thanks to the generosity of 20 USGA Foundation donors, the campaign to endow the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup Matches reached its goal in 2023. The initial $10 million secured through pledges was matched by the USGA, ensuring that the international amateur team competitions will continue their historic legacies for decades to come.
Governance
The USGA and The R&A have decided to address the issue of increased hitting distances in golf and promote a more sustainable game, after an extensive six-year process of research, collaboration, and public dialogue. Starting in 2028, a change in golf-ball testing conditions will be implemented, but it will have minimal impact on recreational golfers.
In January, the USGA and The R&A released a significant update that modernized how golf’s rules are delivered. The addition of Rule 25 covers modifications for players with disabilities, ensuring that all who play are included.
Grow the Game
The USGA invested $1 million in a project to revitalize programs and course conditions at Maggie Hathaway Golf Course in partnership with the Southern California Golf Association and The Los Angeles Country Club, host site of the 123rd U.S. Open, as part of its 2023 U.S. Open host community engagement program. The course is a nine-hole public course that provides affordable and accessible playing opportunities in one of America’s most densely populated areas.
In 2023, almost 400,000 golfers utilized the World Handicap System for the first time, resulting in continued year-over-year growth in the number of golfers with a Handicap Index. With more than 3.3 million American golfers in the handicapping system, the most enthusiastic players in the game are represented, with more than 70 million scores posted this year.
Things have come a long way since the days of sheep and rabbits handling the mowing! @USGAGrnSection pic.twitter.com/rqs4a1lyKk
— USGA (@USGA) December 23, 2023
In addition, select First Tee chapters established partnerships with HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) thanks to USGA IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility) Grants, ensuring that young people see themselves mirrored in the people who welcome them into the game.
Career Development
During the 2022 and 2023 USGA Pathways Internship Program, over 40% of the students from underrepresented communities who participated in the one-week immersive learning experience during the U.S. Open Week were employed in golf or with a program supporter in 2023.
The 57 Allied Golf Associations utilized the most funding ever for the USGA P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program and hired over 150 individuals across the country for paid internships in golf administration. This included a military veteran and a former schoolteacher who were seeking to transition into golf administration.
To the more than 41 million people who play, watch, work in and love this game, we say 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 for helping us make 2023 an incredible year.
Tap to see some of the many ways we champion and advance the game together 👇
— USGA (@USGA) December 22, 2023
The first class of the Greenkeeper Apprenticeship Program graduated in December. This free one-year in-class and on-course training program was held in N.C. and featured a curriculum written by USGA Green Section experts, who also taught the classes. The cohort included 18 golf course workers, one of whom was a U.S. Army veteran. All participants received pay increases, and 14 have been promoted or given additional responsibilities in their current roles.
At its Annual Meeting on March 2, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn., the USGA will celebrate these 2023 milestones and share its 2024 strategic initiatives.