World Golf Foundation

What World Golf Foundation does

The World Golf Foundation is a U.S.-based non-profit industry organization headquartered in Saint Augustine, Florida, whose stated mission is to unite the golf industry around initiatives that promote the game, expand access, and preserve its traditional values. It serves as the formal convening body for the sport's four principal governing organizations — the LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, and USGA — each of which holds a seat on its Board of Directors with PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan serving as Chair and Greg McLaughlin serving as CEO since 2018.

Its core deliverables are programs rather than technology products. These include First Tee, a youth development program teaching golf and life skills; the American Golf Industry Coalition, an advocacy vehicle that organizes the annual National Golf Day; and the Make Golf Your Thing initiative, which targets broader audience diversification. The foundation explicitly operates with no proprietary technology, no app, no API, and no AI/ML capability, and its distribution is delivered through member organizations such as the PGA of America's 30,000+ PGA Professionals rather than through owned channels.

Its business model is that of an industry-funded non-profit: it has no disclosed pricing, no commercial revenue model, no funding rounds, and no parent entity. Governance and resourcing are collective among its four member organizations, with Greg McLaughlin overseeing both the foundation and First Tee. Revenue is not disclosed in the available data, and the foundation claims a global footprint primarily through the international reach of its governing-body members.

Name

World Golf Foundation

Legal name

World Golf Foundation

Website

https://worldgolffoundation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The World Golf Foundation is a U.S. non-profit that unites the LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, and USGA to promote golf, expand access, and preserve the sport's traditional values through programs such as First Tee, the American Golf Industry Coalition, and National Golf Day.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Golf Industry Advocacy

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Clubs & Tournament-Host Clubs (Professional/Elite Golf Clubs) (MPAKABAE)

Keywords

• Golf industry advocacy
• Youth development programs
• Sports nonprofit coalition
• Golf accessibility initiatives
• Industry association programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Augustine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Core offering

World Golf Foundation is a non-profit organization that unites the global golf industry around initiatives that promote, enhance the growth of, and provide access to the game of golf worldwide while preserving its traditional values. It operates a portfolio of advocacy and development programs including the American Golf Industry Coalition, Make Golf Your Thing, National Golf Day, and First Tee youth development program, governed by a board representing LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, and USGA.

Product overview

The World Golf Foundation is a non-profit organization that serves as a unifying body for the global golf industry, rather than a commercial technology product company. It operates a portfolio of advocacy and development programs including the American Golf Industry Coalition, the Make Golf Your Thing initiative, National Golf Day, and First Tee youth development program. These programs work together to promote golf growth, enhance industry advocacy, and expand access to the sport worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• American Golf Industry Coalition
• Make Golf Your Thing
• National Golf Day
• First Tee

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPGA is represented on the World Golf Foundation's Board of Directors through Interim Commissioner Liz Moore. The LPGA collaborates on industry-wide initiatives to promote, enhance growth of and provide access to golf worldwide while preserving its traditional values.
• PGA of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGA of America CEO Derek Sprague serves on the WGF Board. The organization collectively works on advocacy initiatives, industry programs, and efforts to enhance the vitality of the golf industry and recreational levels of the sport through the American Golf Industry Coalition.
• PGA TOURcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan serves as Chair of the World Golf Foundation Board. PGA TOUR contributes to global golf promotion, supports First Tee initiatives, and participates in industry advocacy through National Golf Day and the American Golf Industry Coalition.
• USGA (United States Golf Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSGA CEO Mike Whan serves on the WGF Board. USGA collaborates on championing and advancing the game through global championships, golfer engagement programs, accessibility initiatives, and sustainability efforts.
• First TeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Tee is a flagship initiative of the World Golf Foundation focused on youth development through golf. Led by CEO Greg McLaughlin, it provides programs that build character and teach life lessons while passing on golf's traditional values to young people.
• American Golf Industry CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn initiative led by World Golf Foundation that brings the golf industry together to advocate for efforts enhancing industry vitality and recreational levels. Conducts annual National Golf Day and collectively communicates golf's contributions to economy, health, charitable giving, and sustainability.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The R&A: The R&A is the global governing body of golf outside of the Americas and Mexico, paralleling WGF's role as the umbrella advocacy and stewardship body for golf's traditions, rules, and development. Both organizations convene major stakeholders to promote and preserve the game worldwide.
• International Golf Federation: The IGF is the international federation recognized by the IOC for golf, coordinating the sport globally and overseeing Olympic participation. Like WGF, it serves as an industry-wide coordination body promoting the growth and governance of golf at a global level.
• National Golf Foundation: The NGF is the industry's research and market intelligence arm, providing data and analysis to grow golf. It is a direct peer to WGF in serving as a non-profit industry body focused on participation growth, market research, and accessibility for the game of golf.
• GCSAA (Golf Course Superintendents Association of America): GCSAA is the professional association for golf course superintendents, an industry trade body that supports a key stakeholder segment in the golf ecosystem. It is comparable to WGF in serving as a non-profit association advocating for and developing a constituent group within golf.

Broad incumbents

• PGA of America: PGA of America is one of WGF's four governing member organizations and a major operating entity in golf, running championships, member services for 30,000+ professionals, and growth initiatives. It is comparable as a key stakeholder WGF convenes rather than as a direct competitor.
• PGA TOUR: PGA TOUR operates the principal men's professional golf tours in the U.S. and is a founding WGF board member. It is a peer in the sense that both organizations drive golf's global growth, though PGA TOUR is a tour operator rather than an industry advocacy body.
• USGA: The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the U.S., conducting championships and setting the rules of play. It sits on WGF's board and shares a parallel mission of advancing and preserving the game, making it a closely aligned industry peer.
• LPGA: The LPGA operates the leading women's professional golf tour and is a WGF board member. Both organizations promote the growth and accessibility of golf globally, with the LPGA providing a tour-based commercial counterpart to WGF's advocacy role.

Emerging players

• Tiger Woods Foundation: The Tiger Woods Foundation is a youth-focused golf non-profit that Greg McLaughlin led prior to joining WGF. It is comparable as another charitable organization promoting youth development through golf, though with a narrower programmatic scope than First Tee.

Others

• World Surf League: The WSL is the governing body for professional surfing and is comparable to WGF as a sports industry organization that promotes and develops its sport globally, though it operates with a more tour-and-event-driven commercial model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/worldgolffound
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-golf-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about World Golf Foundation