Retail sales data for September 2022 shows sales of golf equipment were down more than seven percent for the month of September 2022, and are down 1.8 percent on a YTD basis, according to Golf Datatech, which tracks sell-through numbers at green grass and off-course stores around the U.S..
Balls and Gloves were the only categories with sales improvements vs. 2021, up four percent and five percent, respectively.
The biggest declining category, according to Datatech, was irons, which fell by more than 20 percent.
None of the sales figures are particularly surprising given that it’s difficult to maintain the post-Covid record-setting sales numbers of the of the past 18 months.
Irons sales in September fell significantly as backorders from purchases made earlier this year were finally assembled and shipped, while wood sales have been slow all year.
“In total, this was the third largest September since Golf Datatech started projecting sales data (1997), so while slowing sales is never good news, we are still in a much better place than at any time prior to pandemic,’’ said Datatech Partner John Krzynowek,.
Consumable, such as balls and gloves, are more closely aligned with playing levels, and had another positive month in September.
Here’s a closer look:
US September 2022 Total Retail Sales-Equipment
Total On-Off Course September ’22 vs. ’21: Dollars -7.3%
Total On-Off Course September YTD ’22 vs. ’21: Dollars -1.8%
Total On-Off Course September ’22 vs. ’19: Dollars +35.2%
Total On-Off Course September YTD ’22 vs. ’19: Dollars +39.3%