Spanish golf closed 2024 with a historic 305,603 members, marking the sixth consecutive year of growth in licenses, a figure that reinforces its position as one of the healthiest and most attractive sports for people of all ages. This success is a clear indication of the recovery and boom that this discipline has experienced in Spain after complicated years.
Solid and Sustained Growth
In the last fiscal year, 6,644 new licenses were added to the total, representing an increase of 2.2% over the beginning of the year. This growth not only consolidates a positive trend, but also breaks the streak of decline suffered between 2011 and 2019, stemming from the economic and health crisis that affected numerous sectors, including golf.
Since 2019, Spanish golf has experienced a sustained recovery, with percentage increases year on year, highlighting figures such as 4.8% in 2021 and 3.0% in 2022. This progress has been driven by the unique characteristics of golf: a healthy, safe sport, practiced outdoors and promoting both physical and psychological well-being.
Distribution by Autonomous Communities
The distribution of licenses by autonomous community shows a generalized positive performance in 2024:
- Madrid leads with 94,999 members, 31% of the national total.
- Andalusia is in second place with 51,902 licenses, 17% of the total.
- Catalonia, with 29,702 members, represents 9.7%.
Other notable communities include the Valencian Community (22,405), the Basque Country (18,233) and Castilla y León (14,485). In percentage terms, Murcia is the leader in relative growth, with an increase of 5.6%, followed by the Valencian Community (4.4%) and the Balearic Islands (4.0%).
However, Ceuta, Melilla and Navarra recorded slight declines, although their absolute figures are very small.
Women and Quarry: A Promising Future
Women’s golf has also grown significantly, reaching 83,882 licenses, 27.5% of the national total. This progress includes:
- 48,920 women over 50 years of age.
- 22,712 between 21 and 50 years old.
- 12,117 under 21 years of age, of which 8,173 are under 16 years of age.
In terms of junior players, 23,739 under 16 years of age form the basis of Spanish golf, increasing to 36,727 if up to 21 years of age are considered. This growth reflects the positive impact of programs such as Golf in Schools and other promotional initiatives that encourage young people to play.
A Historical and Expanding Landscape
Spanish golf has come a long way since 1990, when it had only 45,000 federated players. Historic milestones include:
- 1996: The number of members exceeded 100,000.
- 2002: More than 200,000 registered players.
- 2006: The number reached 300,000.
Although the maximum peak of licenses was recorded in 2010 with 338,588 members, the current recovery augurs a bright future, with an accumulated growth of 12% in the last six years.
Conclusion
The steady increase in the number of members of the Spanish golf federation reflects the attractiveness of the sport and its ability to adapt to today’s demands for health, safety and outdoor enjoyment. With solid figures and effective promotional programs, Spain is consolidating its position as one of Europe’s leading golf destinations.
The challenge now is to continue promoting youth and female participation, thus ensuring a sustained and diversified growth for the coming years. Do you want to be part of this success story? Golf is waiting for you!
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