College demand strains Ole Miss tee times, Gen Z fuels golf growth

On December 3, 2025, the Ole Miss Golf Course advised players to book 14 to 30 days in advance as demand from college aged golfers increased, a change that has made tee times harder to secure for nonstudent residents and visitors. Pro shop manager Tate Anderson said students now make up the majority of rounds. “I’d say probably that at least 60% of our tee times are our student base, so it can be challenging to book tee times, given our limited space and limited courses in Oxford,” Anderson said.

The pressure on local availability mirrors a national trend as younger adults reshape the game. National Golf Foundation data show more than one third of the U.S. population over age five has played golf, and participation is highest among adults age 18 to 34. More than 28 million Americans played traditional course golf in 2024, and over one fifth of them were Gen Z or slightly older. Play away from traditional courses is rising as well, with nearly 19 million people visiting Topgolf and other indoor simulators last year.

Ole Miss student and avid golfer Evan Fitzgerald described the change on campus. “I would also say that definitely most of the students are taking most of the tee times. I would say with college kids golf is getting really popular,” Fitzgerald said. For Lafayette County residents who are not students, those shifts mean longer planning windows, fewer spontaneous rounds, and potential changes in weekday and weekend course patterns.

Economically, the surge in younger players can raise green fee revenue, pro shop sales, and demand for ancillary services such as instruction and local dining, while also creating bottlenecks for existing public facilities. Oxford has limited course capacity, so the immediate options are scheduling adjustments, extended hours, or partnerships with nearby facilities to spread demand. Over the longer term, sustained interest among younger cohorts could justify investment in new public or private course capacity and more indoor simulator venues.

For now, local golfers should expect to plan further ahead and monitor booking windows, while community leaders and course operators weigh operational changes to balance student demand and broader public access.