Dancing with (and around) golf's participation numbers

November 13, 12:48 PMGolf Equipment ExaminerSteve Pike

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All one has to do these days is turn on the TV and watch politicians and economists play with the depressing housing, retail and auto industry numbers. There's more dancing with those figures than on "Dancing With The Stars.''

The PGA of America dances pretty well, too when it comes to numbers for its Play Golf America player development program. According to the PGA, more than 3.4 million people have participated in Play Golf America since its inception in 2004. The PGA touts Play Golf America as an industry-wide marketing campaign designed to introduce people to golf, plus improve their ability to play and enjoy the game.

The PGA says branded Play Golf America programs have reached 1.28 million consumers since 2004 through participation in Play Golf America Days, special events and national promotions. In addition, according to the PGA, an average of 5.5 million golfers participated in leagues and outings per year during that time. Since 2007, according to the PGA, national promotions have accounted for a $37.5 million impact to the golf economy.

The most interesting numbers, however, are these:

More than 75 percent of new golfers reported that one year after participating in a Play Golf America experience, they played an average of 17 rounds over that 12 month period spending $1,695 on golf-related items. Existing golfers reported playing 44 rounds per year, spending $3,559 on golf-related items.

Impressive numbers all around, but what do they really mean? Not much considering that Play Golf America hasn't moved the rounds-played needle. According to Golf Datatech, rounds played increased only one percent between 2004 and 2006. In 2007, according to Datatech, rounds fell one percent versus '06.

So far this year, according to Datatech, which tracks 4,550 courses around the country, rounds played through September were down 1.4 percent compared to the same period in 2007.

Equipment giants such as the Acushnet Company (Titleist, FootJoy, Cobra) and Callaway Golf Co. (NYSE: ELY) are reporting decreases quarterly in sales and earnings.

Those are numbers that really mean something. And they're numbers that are hard to dance around.