Modern Golf and the Golf Cart GPS System: The State of Golf Today

In recent years, golf has surged in popularity like never before, and systems like the golf cart GPS system are helping to expand and grow the sport even further. Today, golf is experiencing one of the most diverse and sustained growth periods in its contemporary history.

Since COVID-19, the sport saw a jump in popularity that led to long-term momentum across almost every category of participation, from hitting the driving range to full courses. We’re seeing more people playing golf today than in the last two decades, with new demographic groups and younger players embracing the sport in record numbers.

As golf continues to grow, so do the operational challenges and demands of players. For operators, staying ahead of the curve is key. More golfers mean busier courses, more pressure on pace and flow of play, and higher expectations across the board.

Tagmarshal’s golf cart GPS system and data-driven features make meeting these demands much easier. With the right smart technology in place, golf courses can increase volume efficiently, improve pace consistency, boost player satisfaction, and create an experience that drives repeat play and continuous growth.

In this article, we take a closer look at the state of golf today. We’ll cover the changing demographics, why round volumes remain high, key statistics, and how state-of-the-art technology is helping courses meet the key challenges while improving player satisfaction as a whole.

Among the most notable changes we’ve seen in golf today is the shift in who’s playing the game. For decades, the golf landscape was dominated by older males, but that period is fading, and we’re seeing younger, more diverse groups entering the game. Today, golf is more representative of broader society, which is a welcome change that is redefining the experience.

We’re also seeing women’s golf participation rise across public courses, private clubs, driving ranges, and more. As social and family-friendly formats become more popular, golf courses are able to build long-term engagement by offering a smooth and welcoming on-course experience.

The more diverse player community in modern-day golf is a change gladly received. With broader cultural access, media representation, junior golf programs, and entertainment golf blowing up in popularity, the sport is now connecting with communities that previously lacked entry points.

After the initial surge in popularity during the pandemic, many predicted that this boom would fade, and the player base would return to the numbers and demographics from before, but this couldn’t have been more wrong. Instead, the sport has maintained its newfound popularity, and round volumes continue to remain high. Across the U.S., U.K., Europe, and other markets, course operators are reporting strong year-round demand.

New figures released by the R&A show the sustained growth of the sport globally. The 2024 Global Participation Report stated that there are 108 million people playing golf across all formats in the governing body’s affiliated markets (this report excludes data from the U.S. and Mexico, as these fall under the jurisdiction of the USGA). Around 43.3 million adults and juniors played 9 or 18 holes in 2025, which is 42.7 million more than the year before.

Public courses in particular are seeing record use, with weekends and peak times often fully booked. Private clubs, on the other hand, tend to have long waitlists. Facilities all over are reporting that tee sheets are being filled weeks in advance during busy periods of the season.

And while this is good for the sport, it comes with its own challenges. A high demand can mean longer rounds, increased bottlenecks, operational issues, player frustration during delays, pressure on staff and marshals, and inconsistent experiences across busy periods.

Without the right golf course technology that allows for real-time visibility and proactive management, keeping a smooth pace of play becomes incredibly difficult, frustrating players across the course.

Fortunately, Tagmarshal’s golf cart GPS system technology has pace and flow management features to help courses operate efficiently even under heavier demand.

It’s not just public and private courses gaining traction; entertainment golf has exploded in popularity. Simulator venues, indoor ranges, tech-filled training centers, and boutique golf lounges have introduced millions of people to the game. This is also known as off-course golf, and it is often the perfect entry point for newcomers.

According to the National Golf Foundation’s 2025 Graffis Report, 32.6 million players participated in off-course golf in the United States during the year 2024, which surpassed the number of on-course golf participants (28.1 million).

First-time golfers tend to start at off-course venues where the environment is more relaxed, social, and filled with smart technology. But sooner or later, curiosity brings these new players to the golf course.

Naturally, as newcomers, these players may not always be up to speed with the written and unwritten rules of golf. New players may not know etiquette, may not understand pace expectations, and may often feel intimidated or unsure about navigating the courses. While a great first round will increase the chances of a player, a stressful experience can do the opposite, highlighting the importance of this moment for facilities.

Tagmarshal’s golf cart GPS system supports first-time players by providing exact GPS distances to build confidence, offering clear wayfinding, helping course management slow play without embarrassing players, and reducing bottlenecks that would add significant pressure to inexperienced golfers.

The right first round can turn a casual golfer into a lifelong lover of the sport, and Tagmarshal is here to help make that happen.

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Tagmarshal is the leading name in golf course optimization. We provide courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting so golf operators have the key tools needed to improve the player experience through pace and flow of management, increase efficiency with automation, and generate additional revenue overall.

In modern-day golf, technology is no longer optional; it’s a necessity. For course operators, embracing the power of a golf cart GPS and smart technology features allows you to deliver the best possible experiences and see the strongest returns.

More golfers on the course, shifting demographics, and higher expectations have made tools like Tagmarshal indispensable. Tagmarshal gives courses the ability to optimize flow, reduce round times, and smooth out variability between groups. This means courses have a sustainable path to growth with more satisfied players, more repeating rounds, and, of course, stronger revenue.

Tagmarshal improves the golfer experience with its modern GPS interface. The system gives golfers accurate distances, course visuals, and real-time pace context to create a sense of transparency and control. As modern-day players expect technology to support their rounds, these tools are essential, whether for seasoned veterans or newcomers.

The clarity offered by Tagmarshal’s tech allows players to feel more relaxed and self-sufficient. Newcomers to the sport, who are often uncertain about pace of play and positioning, can benefit greatly from a system that carefully guides and reassures them. With Tagmarshal, player stress goes down, enjoyment goes up, and the round feels smoother.

Golf course operators are well aware of the importance of pace of play and flow management. As courses are busier than ever, getting this right has become even more difficult. Before smart golf technology, marshals would typically react to issues after they had already disrupted the flow of the course.

With Tagmarshal’s real-time tracking and automated pace alerts, the whole process becomes proactive, rather than reactive. Live pace tracking automatically flags emerging delays, so staff can address issues early, fairly, and diplomatically. While golfers won’t necessarily see the system working, they’ll definitely feel the results – fewer slowdowns, less waiting, and a more enjoyable rhythm to the round.

With Tagmarshal’s Live Map, courses get a full operational view of every group on the course at any moment. As such, staff can carefully monitor positioning, spacing, dwell times, and movement patterns with remarkable clarity. Staff members can use this information to make decisions proactively, whether it’s adjusting starter intervals, supporting a group that has fallen behind, or preventing a developing issue from turning into a huge slowdown.

The Live Map helps improve efficiency while enhancing professionalism on the course as a whole. From beginning to end, golfers can expect a smooth experience.

The analytics and reporting features in Tagmarshal’s Analytics Hub provide course operators with data that reveals how the course is actually performing. Beyond the daily oversight, managers and operators can see which holes cause bottlenecks, how long rounds take at different times, where pace disruptors tend to occur, and how staffing or setup decisions impact flow.

Operators and managers can use this information to make informed and data-backed decisions instead of relying on guesswork or assumptions. As time passes, these small adjustments compound, leading to more efficient tee sheets, clearer policies surrounding pace of play, and a more predictable course flow that improves the player experience. For any course seeking long-term, continuous improvement, Tagmarshal’s Analytics Hub is a powerful feature.

We can see how, in just a few short years, the general landscape of golf saw some dramatic shifts – from changing demographics and younger players getting involved to embracing powerful tech that improves the experience as a whole. These changes are not just trends that come and go; they are long-term shifts that will continue to shape the industry as it moves forward.

The courses best positioned to meet this moment will be those that embrace smart technology tools, such as a golf cart GPS system. As the leader in golf course optimization, Tagmarshal is at the forefront of this. The tools and features offered by our system will become the operational backbone for any facility seeking to deliver consistency, reduce friction, and build loyalty among player bases.

Looking ahead, the most successful courses will be those that balance tradition with innovation – using data to make informed decisions, optimize tee sheets, and create predictable pace conditions that keep players happy, even as demand rises. Technology will continue to play a major role in helping newcomers feel confident and welcome, and entertainment golf is likely to bring in even more players over time.

The future of golf is bright, with strong participation numbers, expanding interest, and more players excited about the game than ever before.

Golf continues to grow, and player expectations are increasing at the same rate. With more players filling tee sheets and a more diverse audience, it’s the perfect time for course operators to embrace smarter and more efficient ways to manage their courses. Tagmarshal’s golf cart GPS system is the perfect solution, providing tools for improving pace, enhancing the player experience, and boosting operations as a whole.

Ready to take your operation to the next level? Schedule a demo with Tagmarshal today and see the difference that smart course management can make.

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