Golfers are High-Value Dual-Income Households in Detroit

Is the golf industry obsessing over the wrong generation? At Gather, we love data that challenges the status quo. There seems to be a key assumption in our industry right now. The future of golf depends entirely on attracting Gen Z. But in our latest Generation Next report, our latest research suggests this narrow focus might actually be a distraction. Introducing Generation Next This report analyzed golf's generational makeup and found a different story. The data makes a compelling case for a more balanced, pragmatic approach, focusing on the generations that will shape golf’s consumer base over the next decade - Millennials and Gen X. Does your strategy align with the data, or are you chasing the hype? Find the link to the full report in the comments below. #GolfIndustry #MarketResearch #GenerationalMarketing #Gather #BusinessStrategy

I understand that we've got to plan for the future. But if you're a business selling to golf consumers, your core clients probably won't be Gen Z... this Gather report has a pragmatic approach to identifying the next generation of golf consumers. Gather | Data-driven intelligence for golf businesses

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Sports teams move $37–43 billion in merchandise every year. And the moment that transaction clears, the relationship ends. You got a credit card number. Maybe an email. But did that fan wear the jersey to the game or hang it in a closet? Did they move to Denver? Are they a season ticket holder or a one-time tourist? No idea. Because for most teams, merch is a revenue line — not a data strategy. 40,000 fans walk out the door every year in shopping bags. Each one is a data point you'll never see again. Unless the merchandise itself becomes the connection point. Full breakdown → vonga.io/blog #SportsMarketing #FanData #FanEngagement #SponsorROI

Golf's fastest growing customer is a woman. 8 million female golfers now play on course. Up 46% since 2019. 28% of all players. A record high. Data from the National Golf Foundation, The R&A, and the United States Golf Association (USGA) all point to the same conclusion: female players are now one of the most significant drivers of sustained growth in the game. Brands and operators should be asking these questions: Why does she stay? and what makes her leave? Because golf no longer sits in one lane. It sits at the intersection of sport, lifestyle, and relationship time. Here’s what we know: She arrives off-course first. 43% of female participants start at driving ranges and entertainment venues. She's not buying a game. She's buying time. With her partner. Her friends. Her kids. She's not asking for "women's golf." She's asking for better golf. Better facilities, better-fitting gear, instruction that doesn't talk down to her. Small details. Couples' engagement is an untapped commercial lever. When both partners play, golf becomes embedded in how they holiday, travel, and spend time together. Most operators haven't fully priced that opportunity. She's also the junior pipeline. 35% of junior golfers are girls. Are you investing in the 20-year customer relationship? or still optimising for the weekend you can see right in front of you? This demographic are not only buying access to a game. They are buying time, space, and shared experience. The female golfer isn't a trend to acknowledge. She's a demographic to build an intentional strategy around. #golf #demographics #business #strategy

My big question is why are more organizations not partnering with female golf organizations? Get in front of this lofty demographic and stop wasting money on ads.

This is the moment for clothing brands and golf companies to take a hard look at how they're truly serving female buyers. As a female player who has searched retail spaces for clothing, equipment, and accessories, I've experienced firsthand how often it feels like an afterthought: fewer options, less technical variety, and displays that don't reflect the modern female golfer. Women aren't asking for a pink version of a men's line. The female golfer is no longer a fad or a passing trend. She's a core customer who needs and DESERVES a long-term strategy. It's time for brands to move from reactive inclusion to intentional investment. ⛳ #womeninsports #golfindustry #womeningolf #consumerinsights #growthegame

“Folks, this is madness. This is March Madness.” - Brent Musburger, CBS, 1982 What is often overlooked is where that phrase truly took hold. Before it became a national phenomenon, “March Madness” was tied directly to the IHSA boys basketball state tournament. Local car dealerships built advertising campaigns around the event itself, using the phrase to connect their brand to packed gyms, community pride, and postseason excitement across Illinois. Those IHSA tournament ads stuck with Musburger during his time in Chicago. When he used the phrase on a national broadcast in 1982, he was not inventing it. He was echoing what high school basketball in Illinois had already established. A high school event. A local advertising campaign. A message strong enough to last more than 50 years. It is a reminder that when brands align authentically with high school sports, the impact can extend far beyond a single season or campaign. So the question is simple. What is your brand’s March Madness? Let’s connect and build something special in this arena. #MarchMadness #HighSchoolSports #IllinoisBasketball #SportsMarketing #BrandImpact #MarketingHistory #BasketballCulture

Grassroots sport isn’t small. Across the UK, grassroots teams and clubs reach over 10 million people every year on social media alone. Every weekend there are thousands of matches, shared posts, tagged sponsors, community groups and parent networks driving engagement far beyond the pitch. Here’s what that means for businesses: • For every £1 invested in community sport, up to £4 is generated in social value return • 70%+ of fans say they are more likely to support a business that supports their local team • Grassroots clubs generate consistent weekly exposure through fixtures, training updates and community content • Local sponsorship builds higher trust than traditional paid ads • Community-based marketing creates repeat visibility — not just a one-off impression Grassroots sponsorship isn’t charity. It’s smart, localised, high-trust marketing. If you’re a business owner looking for brand visibility, community credibility and measurable return — grassroots sport is where it starts. Indie Sport – Connecting businesses with the teams that matter. #GrassrootsSport #SportsSponsorship #CommunityMarketing #LocalBusiness #IndieSportuk

Today our Chief Executive, Michael Bishop, will share the RDA perspective in his address on “The Equestrian Landscape” at the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Equestrian Business Summit 2026. From the increasing focus on social license to the growing demand for inclusivity and therapeutic engagement, the "landscape" of horse riding is evolving. Understanding these shifts is not just about social responsibility - it is about identifying where the future of equestrianism is headed. Michael will share what this means for society - and why the relevance of horses in people’s lives is the cornerstone of the future of equestrianism. We’re also delighted that he is joining the centrepiece discussion panel on “The Future of Participation."