Golf participation in UK continues stunning growth

Golf participation in Great Britain and Ireland is higher than pre-COVID levels, research led by the R&A has found.  

Research led by the R&A, along with England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf, highlights that golf continued to grow in 2022, and reached participation numbers higher than before the pandemic. 

The data shows that 5.6 million adult players played on nine or 18 hole courses last year, the second highest number in over 30 years. That number has increased by 265,000 from 2021.  

The only year that eclipsed 2022 was 2020, where golf enjoyed significant growth due to the pandemic.  

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The research shows what many golfers will already know, that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many new golfers to the sport, as well as encouraged those who had given up the game in previous years to return to the sport. 

The study also showed that 20% of adult golfers on nine or 18 hole courses were female in 2022, compared to 15% in 2019.  

Phil Anderton, chief development officer at the R&A, said: “It is very positive to see the number of on-course adult golfers grow in Great Britain and Ireland last year. The sport remains very popular on full-length courses as large numbers of lapsed or non-golfers who took up the sport during the pandemic continue to enjoy playing.

“The growth has been aided by the important work of golf bodies to drive participation initiatives and increase awareness of the benefits of the sport for physical and mental health, including our pilot health campaign in Wales last year.

“There remains significant interest in golf and while we recognise that there are economic challenges due to cost of living pressures, it is important for everyone involved to do their best to keep existing golfers in the sport.”

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Participation initiatives included ‘Golf is Good’, a new global project by The R&A piloted in Wales last summer in partnership with Wales Golf. Featuring R&A global ambassador Gareth Bale, it used recent scientific research to promote the health and wellbeing benefits of playing the sport through cutting-edge animation.

The campaign produced positive results with 65% of current golfers who had seen golf and health advertising playing more golf than usual in 2022, compared to 48% of current golfers who had not seen the advertising. Furthermore, 73% of current on-course golfers were likely to play more golf because of the campaign.

The ‘Golf is Good’ campaign insight in Wales and the new GB&I participation and GB rounds played data was produced by Sporting Insights.

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor