LINK TO 2024 GOLF SCORECARD
Looking at the 77 million-plus scores posted in 2024 and comparing that to WHS data going back to 2020, trends include:

- A significant increase in 9-hole score posting: There were a record number of 9-hole rounds played in 2024, with 13,798,174 scores posted – an 8% increase over 2023 and up nearly 40% since 2020.
- More golfers with a Handicap Index®: Over 3.35 million golfers in the U.S. maintained a Handicap Index in 2024 – up over 6% year over year and up nearly 30% since 2020.
New golfers posted more 9-hole rounds: Those who established a Handicap Index in 2024 were more likely to play and post 9-hole rounds; women who started this year played 9 over 50% of the time, whereas men new to the game played 9 over 28% of the time. 
Short courses are becoming more popular: Since January of this year, par-3 and other shorter courses are now eligible to obtain a Course Rating™ and Slope Rating®, and, to date, over 180K scores have been posted at more than 350 short courses nationwide.
Most rounds posted are recreational: The data dispel the widely held notion that a Handicap Index is only for golfers playing in elite competitions, as 94.5% of the 77 million rounds posted were recreational. Also, 25.4% of men and 23.7% of women posted at least one competitive score in 2024, meaning that over 75% of all golfers were playing and posting for fun. 
- “It’s been exciting to see year-over-year trends develop as the World Handicap System has matured, shedding light on how and where the game is being played in the U.S.,” said Steve Edmondson, USGA Managing Director of Handicapping and Course Rating. “We’ve been able to use that data to inform recent Rules of Handicapping changes, including updating how 9-hole scores are treated for handicap purposes, based on the record popularity in playing 9. We’re grateful for our Allied Golf Associations in support of this work and are excited to give players more insight into how the game is being played across the country.”

Showcasing an entirely new layout, the 2024 GHIN Rewind highlights a more evolved GHIN user experience, with more data points to offer golfers a comprehensive review of their year. The features include:

- Personalized Year-in-Review: Celebrate your golf journey with a tailored recap highlighting your activity and milestones from 2024.
- Comprehensive Data Highlights: GHIN Rewind includes key insights like Handicap Index changes, average score, total rounds played, lowest and highest scores, courses played, days and months played, hardest and easiest courses, and most-played courses.  
- Immersive Multi-Slide Experience: GHIN Rewind now features an engaging, story-style format, transitioning from last year’s single-page summary.
- Shareable Moments: Each slide is designed to be easily shareable, so you can showcase your golf accomplishments with friends and fellow golfers.
- Data Included: Captures your 2024 golf data through November 30, with a refresh in January 2025 to include your full-year activity for any rounds played in December.
- Access: Golfers must have posted at least three 18-hole rounds to see their GHIN Rewind. The feature is available on the GHIN app for iOS and Android. 
- “Heading into our third year of GHIN Rewind, our team wanted to go deeper on golfer data, and I think users will be really excited by the new GHIN Rewind experience,” said Tom Padula, USGA senior director of GHIN. “Buoyed by data, GHIN Rewind is just the latest development of GHIN app, where our recent free trial launch has opened doors for many more golfers. We’ve seen amazing support from our partner in Sentry and can’t wait to unveil more new features to improve the golfer experience in 2025.”

The GHIN app is fully integrated with the World Handicap System, which the USGA also oversees in its governance function, to ensure fair and equitable play for all golfers. More than 3.3 million golfers in the U.S. alone maintain a Handicap Index, across a wide range of playing abilities. 

Download the GHIN app now on iOS or Android, and for more information about the app and its features, please visit www.GHIN.com.

About the USGA

The USGA is a mission-based golf organization whose purpose is to unify the golf community through handicapping and grassroots programs; to showcase the game’s best talent through the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally and 13 other national championships and our museum; to provide unbiased global governance with The R&A through the playing, equipment and Amateur Status rules; and to advance issues important to golf’s future, with a focus on driving sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. As a nonprofit association, our work and our team are driven to act for the good of the game. For more, visit usga.org.