The Royal and Ancient and Sports Marketing Surveys have released a report that highlights that the number of golfers has increased worldwide over the past five years, highlighting a significant rise in the sport’s popularity, embodied in a rise of five and a half million additional golfers playing the sport since 2016.
According to the report, the total number of golfers worldwide has increased from 61 million to 66.6 million over the past five years, surpassing the previous mark of 61.6 million set in 2012. This figure includes both golfers who belong to a club and independent golfers who play nine or 18 holes, as well as users of driving ranges in geographic areas where course availability is limited.
The new figure reflects a positive trend for golf after a period of decline, a figure reflected in a recent 2021 European Golf Participation Report, which highlighted that more than 10.6 million golfers regularly play on the European continent, a significant increase from the 7.9 million last counted in 2016.
Phil Anderton, The R&A’s Director of Development, said, “Golf is enjoying a real boom in popularity at the moment and we are seeing substantial increases in golfer activity in many parts of the world, particularly in the last two years, as the sport of golf has shown that it can be played safely outdoors in this period of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Phil Anderton believes that “the new data is very encouraging, but we need to keep working to make the most of this opportunity and retain those people who have returned to golf or have tried it for the first time. To do this we need to offer attractive and flexible options that encourage golfers to play more regularly and enjoy its many health and wellness benefits with family and friends.”
Sports Marketing Surveys has compiled data from national federations in different regions of the world, using nationally representative surveys and expert estimates to calculate the global number of total golfers.
The regions that experienced the largest increases are Asia (20.9 million to 23.3 million); Europe (7.9 million to 10.6 million, driven primarily by Great Britain and Ireland 3.6 million to 5.7 million); and North America (29.9 million to 30.6 million).
Research findings indicate that the growth trend began before Covid-19 and then accelerated during the pandemic as the popularity of golf grew because golfers could distance themselves socially in a safe outdoor environment and stay active to improve their physical and mental health.
Another study determines the motivations for playing and long-term plans of golfers. Among new golfers, 98% of respondents identified that they enjoy playing golf and 95% see themselves playing golf for many years.
The research also outlines recommendations made to clubs to retain new players, including feeling welcome and valued; a friendly culture and relaxed atmosphere; participation options based on ability and experience; good customer service; having an efficient reservation system; the quality and maintenance of the course; and, most importantly, playing in an encouraging environment.
Leave a Reply