Don montuori

Thanks in part to the success of high profile professionals who are helping to reshape the image of golf in a positive and hip way, the appeal of golf to younger generations, women, and more diverse ethnic groups is starting to evolve.

Buying power, we know, is one key signal of the growth and size of the vital GLBT consumer market. In our report, we cite buying power as another term for 'disposable personal income,' which is the total after-tax income available to an individual to spend on personal consumption, personal interest payments or savings. According to economists, it roughly equals 86% of income.

Having roughly the same purchasing power as Hispanics, African Americans tend to be left behind when it comes to marketing and advertising because Hispanics are expected to have more rapid population growth. Marketers would be wise, however, to tap into the African American segments that outpace their Hispanic counterparts, such as those with incomes greater than $50,000; owner-occupied households; married-couple families; and African American women-all sectors which offer huge potential in the consumer goods markets.