Golf, once stereotyped as a sport for retirees and business executives, is undergoing a remarkable transformation. With participation numbers soaring and new formats like off-course experiences drawing in fresh faces, the game’s core audience is younger and more diverse than ever. But when it comes to watching professional golf, the picture gets more complicated. Traditional broadcasts on networks like NBC Sports often attract an older crowd, while upstart leagues like LIV Golf are capturing the attention of millennials and Gen Z through digital platforms. In this article, we’ll break down golf’s core demographic, compare the audiences of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf across various platforms, and explain— in simple terms for the casual reader—why NBC Sports’ golf viewership skews older than the broader golfing world.
The Core Golf Demographic: Younger, Diverse, and Growing
At its heart, golf’s “core” audience includes everyone who plays the game—whether on a traditional course, at a driving range, or in a high-tech simulator like Topgolf. According to the National Golf Foundation’s (NGF) 2025 reports, golf participation hit a record 47.2 million Americans aged 6 and older in 2024, with trends pointing to continued growth into 2025. This breaks down into 28.1 million on-course players (the highest since 2008) and 19.1 million engaging in off-course activities like simulators or entertainment venues.
What makes this core audience stand out is its youth and diversity. More than half (57%) of on-course golfers are under 50, flipping the old narrative of golf as an “older person’s game.” The 18-34 age group leads the pack with 6.3 million golfers, followed closely by other under-50 segments. Since 2019, participation has surged among juniors (up 36%), people of color (up 17%), and women (up 15%). Women now make up 28% of on-course players—the highest on record—and 25% of golfers are Black, Asian, or Hispanic.
This shift is largely driven by the pandemic boom and casual, social formats. Off-course golf appeals especially to younger players, with fewer than 10% of 18-34-year-olds viewing shorter courses as “not real golf,” compared to older groups who might be more traditionalist. 6 The median age of this core audience? Likely in the mid-40s, a full generation younger than it was a decade ago. Golf is no longer just for the country club set—it’s for families, young professionals, and diverse communities looking for fun and relaxation.
PGA Tour Audience: Traditional TV Dominates, but Digital Brings Youth
The PGA Tour, golf’s longstanding powerhouse, draws a massive audience across TV, streaming, and digital platforms. In 2025, viewership has seen a boost: CBS averaged 2.969 million viewers per PGA Tour broadcast during the regular season, up 17% from 2024, while NBC and Peacock averaged 2.7 million for final rounds, up 13%. Overall, Sundays with PGA events averaged 3.1 million viewers on CBS and NBC. 36
Demographically, the PGA Tour’s audience varies by platform. On linear TV (like CBS and NBC), it skews older, with a median viewer age historically around 64, though 2025 data suggests some softening due to overall growth. A 2023 YouGov survey (still relevant in trends) showed interest peaking among 25-34-year-olds (19%), followed by 18-24 and 35-44 groups, indicating appeal to younger fans overall. The pgatour.com website draws a predominantly male audience (74%), with strong engagement from under-50 visitors.
Streaming and social media help lower the age: Platforms like Peacock and ESPN+ attract 18-44 viewers, with events like the 2025 PGA Championship reaching millions globally across 190 countries. However, the PGA Tour struggles to fully connect with Gen Z, as younger fans prioritize social media influencers and shorter content over traditional broadcasts.
Mid-to-high-income individuals make up 74% of viewers, emphasizing the affluent nature of the fanbase.
LIV Golf Audience: Young, Digital-First, and Global
LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed league shaking up the sport with its team-based, shorter format, targets a distinctly younger crowd. In 2025, viewership hit a record 484,000 for an April event, but averages remain lower than the PGA Tour—around 286,000 on Sundays across The CW and streaming. Globally, it’s stronger: The debut event drew 3.51 million viewers on YouTube and LIV Golf+, highlighting its digital prowess.
Demographics are LIV’s strength: 71% of its audience is 18-34, drawn to the fast-paced events, big-name players like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, and social media integration. Platforms like YouTube and apps appeal to this group, with global reach (e.g., 11.8% European audience) and influencer partnerships bridging the gap to Gen Z. While U.S. TV numbers on The CW are modest (e.g., over 3.2 million total for early 2023 events, trends similar in 2025), streaming and social make LIV a hit with under-35s who find traditional golf too slow.
PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf: A Tale of Two Audiences
Comparing the two leagues reveals stark contrasts. The PGA Tour boasts larger overall numbers—3.1 million average Sunday viewers vs. LIV’s 286,000—but LIV wins on youth appeal. 11 36 PGA’s TV audience skews older (median around 60-64), while LIV’s is dominated by 18-34-year-olds (71%). Across platforms, PGA relies on traditional TV for volume but uses digital to dip into younger demos; LIV is digital-first, with YouTube and apps driving global, youthful engagement.
The PGA Tour connects with loyal, affluent fans across ages but struggles with Gen Z retention. LIV, meanwhile, is building a new generation of fans through innovation, though its viewership scale lags behind. Both are chasing younger viewers via influencers, but LIV’s format gives it an edge in that race.
Why Network TV’s Golf Audience Skews Older Than the Core
NBC Sports, a key broadcaster for PGA Tour events like the U.S. Open has seen solid 2025 numbers—2.7 million average viewers for final rounds—but its demographic tells a different story. While golf’s core audience is youthful (over 57% under 50), NBC’s golf viewers are older, with a median age likely in the 50-64 range, similar to broader sports TV trends.
For the casual reader, here’s the simple explanation: It’s all about how people watch. Older fans (50+) grew up with linear TV—they tune into NBC or Golf Channel for full, multi-hour tournament coverage, enjoying the tradition and pacing. Younger golfers (18-34), who make up a huge chunk of the core audience, aren’t there because they prefer quick, bite-sized content on their phones or laptops. Think TikTok highlights, YouTube streams, or social media clips— not sitting through a four-hour broadcast. They’re busy with off-course fun like Topgolf or following LIV’s flashy events, and only 54% of 18-29-year-olds watch sports on live TV compared to 82% of those 65+.
NBC is trying to adapt with Peacock streaming (e.g., record 500 million minutes for the 2023 U.S. Open, attracting 18-44 viewers) and younger-focused content on Golf Channel. But linear TV’s older skew persists because it’s easier to reach seniors—who watch more TV overall—and the traditional PGA format doesn’t always hook the fast-paced preferences of youth. As a result, NBC’s audience doesn’t fully reflect golf’s vibrant, under-50 core.
Is The PGA Tour’s Risking Future Sponsorship: Chasing an Aging Audience
The PGA Tour’s reliance on an older audience (50–64) through linear TV platforms like NBC Sports poses a growing potential risk to its sponsorship model, as it fails to fully capture the younger, high-spending 18–54 demographic driving today’s buying trends. While the PGA Tour’s 3.1 million viewers and affluent fanbase (74% mid-to-high-income) remain attractive, brands like golf equipment manufacturers, apparel companies, and travel firms prioritize the 18–34 and 35–54 groups for their purchasing power and long-term loyalty. LIV Golf’s 71% 18–34 audience and digital-first approach (e.g., 3.51 million YouTube views for its debut event) align better with these buyers, putting pressure on the PGA Tour. As younger fans flock to social / digital media sponsors may shift budgets away from the PGA Tour’s older TV audience toward formats that resonate with the under-50 core. Without accelerating its digital pivot and appealing to Gen Z and Millennials, the PGA Tour could potentially lose sponsorship revenue to competitors better positioned for golf’s generational shift
Conclusion: Golf’s Future Is Young and Multi-Platform
Golf in 2025 is thriving with a core audience that’s younger, more inclusive, and digitally savvy. The PGA Tour holds the viewership crown but must innovate to keep up with LIV’s youth magnet status. Networks like NBC Sports face a challenge: Their older demo highlights a generational divide in viewing habits, where younger golfers flock to streaming and social over traditional TV. For fans and the industry, this means exciting opportunities—whether you’re a casual player hitting Topgolf or a viewer scrolling highlights. Golf isn’t aging; it’s evolving, and the platforms that embrace that change will win the next generation.
