RepSpark Blog

Help us Shape our 2027 Golf Ecommerce Report

Written by Tim McLain | October 22, 2026

Golfers have gone digital. They check whether their size is in stock before driving to the course, buy from brand sites at 10 p.m., and expect the color they want to be on the shelf when they walk in.

Behind the counter, the picture is less even. Plenty of golf businesses still run pre-books through spreadsheets, place reorders by email, and keep wholesale and ecommerce inventory in separate systems that don't talk to each other.

We think that gap between golf's consumer front end and its back end is costing brands and retailers time and sales. Our 2027 State of Golf Commerce Report will measure how big it is, and we'd like your perspective in it.

Take the survey (about 12 minutes)

Why a golf-specific report

Earlier this year we published our first State of Wholesale report for the outdoor lifestyle industry. This year we're building one just for golf, because golf runs on its own rhythm: green-grass and off-course accounts, seasonal pre-books, and in-season reorders that rise and fall with the weather.

Demand has held up. According to the National Golf Foundation, golfers played more than 550 million rounds in 2025, with 48.1 million total participants. A lot of research already tracks who plays and what they buy. Much less looks at how product actually gets from brands to shops to golfers. That's what this report is about.

What the survey asks about

The survey covers the questions we hear most from golf brands and retailers heading into 2027:

  • Buying cadence: Is pre-book still the backbone, and are in-season reorders picking up?
  • Inventory: Does wholesale inventory feel healthier and more disciplined than it did in 2021 to 2023?
  • Channels and systems: How many brands really run one inventory, one product catalog, and one order flow across wholesale, DTC, and marketplaces?
  • Ordering friction: What slows down placing, confirming, and reordering product today?
  • Growth: Where are off-course golf, women's golf, and junior golf showing up in assortments, and are green-grass shops selling online?
  • Pressure points: How are tariffs still shaping pricing and sourcing, and how worried are independent shops about consolidation?
  • Technology: How far has golf moved from reps and spreadsheets to self-serve ordering, and is anyone using AI in a meaningful way yet?

How the report comes together

The report combines three sources:

  1. Survey responses from golf brands and manufacturers and from green-grass, off-course, and online retailers.
  2. Aggregated, anonymized ordering trends from the RepSpark platform, such as pre-book versus at-once timing and reorder patterns, so survey answers can be checked against real buying behavior.
  3. Market context from existing golf industry research on who's playing and what they're buying.

What's in it for you

  • Benchmark your business. See how your buying cadence, channel mix, and systems compare with businesses like yours.
  • Get the report first. Respondents get early access to the full report before it's public.
  • Put your view on the record. A few open-ended questions let you say what's working and what isn't, in your own words.

How it works

  • The survey takes about 10 to 13 minutes.
  • The first question asks whether you're with a brand or a retailer, and the rest of the survey adapts to your answer.
  • Responses are confidential and reported only in aggregate.

Whether you run a pro shop, an off-course store, or a golf brand, your answers will help paint a clearer picture of where golf commerce is headed in 2027.

Take the survey now

FAQ

Who should take the 2027 State of Golf Commerce survey?

Anyone who works at a golf brand or manufacturer (apparel, equipment, or accessories) or at a golf retailer, including green-grass pro shops, off-course and big-box stores, and online-only retailers. Owners, executives, buyers, sales, marketing, ecommerce, and operations roles are all welcome.

How long does the survey take?

About 10 to 13 minutes. The first question asks whether you work for a brand or a retailer, and the rest of the survey adapts so you only see questions that apply to you.

Will my answers be kept confidential?

Yes. Survey responses are reported only in aggregate, and no individual person or business is identified in the report. Contact details are optional and are used only to send you the report, run the prize drawing, or arrange a follow-up call if you agree to one.

Do I need to be a RepSpark customer to participate?

No. The survey is open to golf brands and retailers whether or not they use RepSpark.

What topics does the survey cover?

The survey covers pre-book and at-once buying, in-season reorders, inventory levels, tariffs, sales channels, how connected business systems are, wholesale ordering friction, growth categories like off-course, women's, and junior golf, and adoption of digital and AI tools.

How is this report different from other golf industry research?

Most golf research focuses on who is playing and what golfers buy. This report focuses on how product moves from brands to retailers, combining survey responses with aggregated, anonymized ordering trends from the RepSpark platform.

When will the report be published?

The 2027 State of Golf Commerce Report will be published in January 2027 and respondents who opt in will receive it first.