Golf equipment is already a multibillion-dollar market. AI could be about to supercharge it

Summary

Golf participation has surged to record levels with more than 160 million people playing worldwide in 2025.
Artificial intelligence is transforming the sport through self-driving caddies, swing analysis apps and smart equipment that offers real-time advice.
High costs and traditional rules present barriers to AI integration with some smart features banned from competitive play.

AI-generated summary was reviewed by a CNN editor.

Golf is experiencing something of a boom. Following a resurgence during the pandemic, participation numbers hit record heights last year.

More than 160 million people around the world played some form of golf in 2025, marking an almost 50% rise from 2023. The US alone is projected to pass 50 million participants across 2026.

Driving ranges like Topgolf and indoor virtual simulators have also helped grow participation in the sport, with a new wave of casual players driving demand for golf gadgets. And in 2026, where there are gadgets, there is artificial intelligence.

The global golf equipment market grew to an estimated $20.9 billion in 2026, according to market research company Mordor Intelligence, and is predicted to reach $26.7 billion by 2031. Among the most influential factors identified for the projected rise is the adoption of AI-driven technology.

Its impact is being felt from the club-factory floor to the fairway — all the way to a virtual version of the sport’s most important assistant: the caddy. Botronics, a startup based in Nivelles, Belgium, has developed a self-driving golf trolley billed as a digital caddie that can not only carry clubs,…

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