Wisconsin’s golf industry has tripled its economic impact since 2010

The economic impact of golf in Wisconsin continues to grow at a pace that surprises even industry professionals.

“To see the numbers that the game has grown to in the state was astonishing,” says Mike O’Reilly, president of the Wisconsin PGA and general manager of Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run in Kohler.

Golf in Wisconsin has a $6.44 billion total economic impact annually in Wisconsin, according to a study conducted by Radius Sports Group on behalf of the Wisconsin Golf Alliance. The direct economic impact was measured at $3.37 billion annually, almost triple the $1.2 billion direct impact reported in 2010 the last time the study was conducted.

O’Reilly says Kohler’s investments in championship golf courses put Wisconsin on the map globally, and others have followed and continued to innovate, creating opportunities to draw people to the state.

Wisconsin is home to 11 of the top 100 ranked public courses in the United States, including Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run in Kohler, as well as Erin Hills in Hartford, and Sand Valley and Mammoth Dunes in Nekoosa.

“These numbers reflect the strength of everyday public play and the powerful draw of nationally recognized destinations and major golf events — positioning Wisconsin as one of the country’s most compelling golf markets,” said Joe Stadler, executive director of the Wisconsin PGA Section.

All those visitors mean money spent at hotels, restaurants, gas stations and more. O’Reilly says while golf might be a focus for a trip to Wisconsin, it likely is not the only thing people will do while they are here.

The study, based on 2023 data, shows that golfers played 11.24 million rounds across Wisconsin’s 528 courses. While the high‑profile courses strengthen the state’s reputation as a destination, 87% of the golf facilities in Wisconsin are public.

“We’re under $100 for a five‑hour experience,” says Jason Daubner, PGA,

general manager for Peninsula State Park Golf Course.

In Door County, which draws millions of tourists annually, that is a very affordable activity, according to Daubner.

There are several contributors to rising interest in golf in Wisconsin and beyond.

According to the National Golf Foundation, almost 13 million people took up the game in 2020 during the COVID‑19 pandemic. O’Reilly says many who picked it up then have stayed with the game.

“Another thing that has grown the game locally and nationally and throughout the world is the access to off‑course, entertainment golf — places like Topgolf or indoor simulators … It can introduce people to the game in a more relaxed environment,” O’Reilly says. “Our winters do get long, so those off‑course opportunities are a great way for people to keep playing or get introduced to the game.”

The report also provides data about golf’s impact on employment. There are more than 56,000 jobs generating more than $2 billion in wages.

O’Reilly says he and many people with whom he works were introduced to golf through early job opportunities, and that also helps grow the game. He points out that there are numerous career opportunities in the industry, including hospitality, agronomy, course operations and golf merchandising.

Golf also provides financial benefits for nonprofits and charitable organizations. Facilities hosted more than 9,000 charitable events in 2023, raising $166 million for nonprofits, according to the report.

O’Reilly says there is a strong group of allied associations (the Wisconsin State Golf Association, Wisconsin PGA of America, Golf Course Owners Association of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Club Management Association of America and the Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association of America) that have worked well together.

As a result, he says, “We have become one of the biggest golf destinations in the whole United States.”