R&A study shows golf club membership on the rise

Figures released by the R&A show that participation and membership across the country is on the rise, with clubs reporting over 100,000 new members across England alone.  

The report shows that since the beginning of the pandemic, participation across the country on both nine-hole and 18-hole golf courses has significantly risen.

Over 737,000 golfers are now estimated to be a member of a club in England, which is around 90,000 more than in February 2021.

Jeremy Tomlinson, CEO of England Golf, commented: “These new membership figures are fantastic to see and reflect well on a great many people in the industry who have worked tirelessly to promote and re-energise the sport at club, county and national level.

“Everyone at England Golf looks forward to working with our clubs and the wider golfing community to build on this growth to ensure we encourage new golfers from diverse backgrounds, or those returning to the sport, to develop a lifelong love affair with this wonderfully fun and frustrating game of ours.”

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Many of the golfers who were surveyed report having a greater appreciation of the mental and physical benefits of golf, particularly after the impact of the pandemic.

The figures have confirmed what many believed, in that participation is significantly up since pre-pandemic times.