The latest research data disclosed by The R&A and the Sports Marketing Survey (SMS) shows that since 2016, golf has gained significant global popularity, with more than 5.5 million new golfers participating.
During this five-year growth period, the total number of golfers worldwide increased from 61 million to 66.6 million, surpassing the all-time high of 61.6 million set in 2012. This metric includes club members, non-member independent golfers who play 9 or 18 holes, and users of driving ranges in areas with limited course supply.
This new figure reflects a positive trend in golf, where global engagement levels are rising after a period of downs. This was highlighted recently in the 2021 European Golf Engagement Report, which recorded a healthy increase from the last monitored 7.9 million people, with more than 10.6 million golfers currently enjoying full-length golf courses on the continent.
Phil Anderton, chief development officer at The R&A, said: "Golf is in the midst of a real popularity boom and we're seeing a significant increase in engagement in many parts of the world, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years when outdoor sports can be done more safely. “
"The new data is very encouraging, but as a sport we need to work together to make the most of this opportunity and bring together the group that is returning to the golf course or trying it for the first time." We can do this by offering a variety of attractive and flexible initiatives that encourage golfers to play more regularly and enjoy the health and well-being that comes with golfing with family and friends. ”
The Sports Marketing Survey collects the number of people involved in golfing reported by national golf associations in different regions of the world, using nationally representative studies and expert estimates to calculate the total number of golfers worldwide.
The largest increases were in Asia (from 20.9 million to 23.3 million), Europe (from 7.9 million to 10.6 million – mainly led by the UK and Ireland from 3.6 million to 5.7 million); and North America (from 29.9 million to 30.6 million).
Research data suggests that growth trends formed before the COVID-19 pandemic and then accelerated the popularity of golf during the pandemic, mainly due to golfers' ability to maintain safe social distancing, exercise, and promote their physical and mental health in an outdoor environment.
In the UK, the number of people playing on 9-hole and 18-hole courses has gradually increased before the COVID-19 outbreak, from 2.5 million in 2017 to 2.8 million in 2018, then to 3 million in 2019 and to 5.2 million in 2020.
With the deregulation of the outbreak, The R&A has tried to do more research on the growth in demand and how different types of golfers are involved in the sport.
In the post-COVID-19 opportunity study and the results of in-depth research, the experience of golfers during the epidemic, the motivation to play and the long-term planning for the future are specifically shown. Among new golfers, 98 percent of respondents said they enjoy playing golf, and 95 percent thought they would continue to play golf for years to come.
The study also provides a number of recommendations in bringing new players to the club, including making people feel welcome and valued; a friendly culture and relaxed atmosphere; playing options based on personal abilities and experience; good customer service; having an efficient booking system; quality and maintenance of the stadium; and most importantly, allowing golfers to play in an inspiring environment.
The R&A has also launched the COVID-19 Funding Fund to help the golf industry cope with the impact of the pandemic, with a £7 million funding scheme facing national golf associations and other affiliates in the UK and Ireland.
Further support for the National Golf Association is expected to be set in 2022. The R&A is developing a range of new initiatives to assist the market in developing and promoting the sport, thereby encouraging more people to participate in golf and bringing together existing golfers.
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