Golf is a sport that’s popular in countries all over the world, and is played by millions of professionals and amateurs alike every year. But how much about the sport do you really know? Here are 7 facts you might not know about golf around the world.

You can tell a lot about people by their Google search history. Using Google Insights, Topend Sports set out to discover which countries look up information on golf the most. The winner? Ireland, followed by Canada, the U.K. and the U.S.

People who love golf love golf. But just how many of them are there? According to a recent survey, 29,000,000 people in the U.S. are golfers; “golfer” being defined as playing at least twelve holes in the last year. That’s nearly 10% of the whole population of the U.S.2

The U.S. may have a lot of golfers, but Europe has its fair share of people who love spending time on the links as well. In 2014, there were 4.39 million registered golfers in Europe – and that doesn’t count the people who aren’t officially registered but still play.3

Sports facilities tend to generate lots of money for the economy, and golf is no exception. In particular, golf generates an economic output of $7.5 billion… and that’s just in Florida! In California, that number is even higher, reaching $15.1 billion.3

“Which golf course is the best?” is a question that golf players and fans will debate for eternity. But it turns out we have as close to a definitive answer to the question as possible: In 2014, Golf Digest named Pine Valley G.C. in New Jersey the world’s greatest golf course.4

Big golf tournaments may not be as popular as the Super Bowl or the World Series, but that doesn’t mean they don’t attract plenty of eyeballs. In 2014, 14.7 million U.S. TV viewers tuned in to watch The Masters. Even more – 33.26 million – watched the U.S Open.3

According to statistics, 5% of golfers in the U.S. are under the age of 30. That may not seem like a lot, until you realize that still means there are more than 1.4 million golfers under 30 in the U.S. who actively participate in the sport.2 Next time someone says golf is for old people, just keep that number in mind.

The International Junior Golf Academy (IJGA) teaches junior golfers the skills they need to succeed in tournaments, and beyond. At IJGA, students learn how to set goals and achieve them, and how to thrive in a friendly but competitive environment. Learn more at IJGA.com.

1. http://www.topendsports.com/world/lists/popular-sport/sports/golf.htm

2. http://www.statisticbrain.com/golf-player-demographic-statistics/

3. http://www.statista.com/topics/1672/golf/

4. http://www.golfdigest.com/gallery/worlds-100-greatest-golf-courses#2