Golf Retail Sales Show Mixed Trends for 2025

News Summary

Golf retail sales are witnessing mixed trends heading into late 2025, according to Circana’s report. Specialty retailers reported a 7% increase in dollar sales, while overall golf-related sales from various retailers saw a 4.5% boost. Despite the optimism, price hikes due to tariffs and a post-COVID sales decline have raised concerns. Acushnet reported a healthy sales increase, influenced by new product popularity, while Callaway faced a slight decline. With golf rounds played rising, the industry navigates economic uncertainties and looks to future trends.

Golf Retail Sales Show Mixed Trends for 2025 Amid Economic Uncertainties

Golf retail sales are making headlines lately, as a recent report from Circana reveals some intriguing trends stepping into the latter half of 2025. It appears that specialty retailers have reported a solid 7% increase in dollar sales through August compared to the same timeframe last year. While golf enthusiasts might be raising a toast, there are some underlying concerns and various factors in play.

General Sporting Goods Also See a Boost

Let’s take a wider look—the overall golf-related sales coming from general sporting goods stores, warehouse clubs, e-commerce platforms, and mass merchandise retailers have experienced a 4.5% boost. But let’s tread carefully here; these figures represent dollar sales, meaning the rise could stem from price hikes rather than a significant increase in sales volume. Many in the industry have been raising eyebrows about whether consumers are buying more or simply paying more for their favorite gear.

Price Hikes and Tariff Talk

Speaking of prices, the ever-looming tariffs are starting to make their presence known in the golf equipment market. Some original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have issued mid-season price increases due to rising costs. This was echoed in financial reports from big players in the industry, who noted that the new tariffs might impact their overall financial health moving into the latter half of the year.

The Post-COVID Slowdown

The golf equipment market has been buzzing since the pandemic, but that post-COVID rush is starting to fade. Retailers have reported a noticeable decline in sales compared to the previous years—one specialty retailer even described the sales landscape as “dead.” Yikes!

Insights from Acushnet and Callaway

However, not all is doom and gloom! Acushnet has managed to report a healthy 4.5% increase in equipment sales during its first half of 2025. This uptick is driven largely by the popularity of new Pro V1 models and hot items like new GT drivers, fairways, and hybrids. In contrast, Callaway has seen slightly decreased equipment sales compared to the first half of 2024—showing that the road ahead might not be smooth sailing for everyone.

Rounds Played Are on the Rise

Golf courses may be seeing more patrons, as rounds played have gone up roughly 1% through August, even with some weather-related discrepancies earlier in the season. A notable spike occurred in August, where rounds soared by over 8%. Typically, when rounds played rise, sales of perishables like golf balls and gloves tend to follow suit. Could this be a silver lining for retailers?

Retail Landscape Insights

The report from Circana captures the sales journey from both online and traditional brick-and-mortar retailers, while steering clear of direct-to-consumer brands. Even amid a decline in sales numbers for major entities, Acushnet and Topgolf Callaway have still made impressive overall sales, with Acushnet surpassing $1.4 billion and Topgolf Callaway hitting $2.2 billion.

The Market Trends Show Promise

The overall equipment market kicked off the year on a positive note, showcasing a 14% year-over-year increase in dollar sales. However, concerns over tariffs have tempered the initial enthusiasm. In specialty retail, clubs saw a 6% sales gain, while consumables like golf balls and gloves increased by 3%. On the flip side, sales in mass and sporting goods channels experienced a modest growth of only 1% overall.

Exciting Developments in Putters

There’s some excitement brewing in the putter segment, which has seen a remarkable 23% increase in dollar sales in specialty shops and a 17% boost in mass and sporting goods retailers. Innovations like “zero torque” technology are driving enthusiasm and potentially shifting sales figures in a positive direction.

Looking Ahead

Retailers and brands are gearing up for a balancing act where tech advancements must meet consumer accessibility to keep the momentum going. As the golf equipment and apparel industry continues to navigate a tricky landscape marked by tariffs and fluctuations in consumer demand, all eyes will be on how these trends evolve. Will the upswing continue or will economic jitters take a toll? Stay tuned!

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Additional Resources

• MyGolfSpy: Golf Retail Sales Report
• Circana: Putter Sales Report 2025
• Business Insider: Golf Revival 2025
• USA Today: July 4th Golf Sales
• Local Profile: PGA Buying Summit
• Wikipedia: Golf Equipment
• Google Search: Golf Sales 2025
• Google Scholar: Golf Retail Trends
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf Industry
• Google News: Golf Sales Report