Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Australian golf reports fourth consecutive year of participation growth

Australian golf reports fourth consecutive year of participation growth
November 28, 2023
Golf /

Australian golf is reporting a fourth consecutive year of participation growth, with 17.6% of adult Australians hitting a golf ball in 2022/23.

The figures were revealed in the annual participation report released yesterday at Moore Park Golf Course in Sydney.

A total 3.5 million adult Australians played golf in the last year - at golf courses, driving ranges, simulators or mini-golf facilities - with golf club membership now up by 10.2% over the past three years.

Club membership grew by 1.9% in 2022/23 to 434,825 people, following increases of 2.7% in 2021/22 and a record 6.4% surge in 2020/21.

There was also a 9.3% rise in junior membership at clubs around the country, along with a surge in women and girls joining golf clubs with an increase of 12.6%.

Golf Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland said golf continued to surge in popularity both on and off the course, advising “golf is clearly one of Australia’s biggest participation sports.

“It has always been big, and it is getting bigger. The 10% increase in golf club membership over recent years is one thing, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Australians flocking to the game. 

“There is a changing face of our sport that sees growth in traditional on-course golf being fuelled through the popularity of off-course golf - driving ranges, indoor golf, and mini-golf.

“As those that work in the industry will tell you, they have never been busier.  In many ways, these numbers are a credit to them all - PGA professionals, club and facility staff, greenskeepers, retail employees, and others across Australian golf.

“These people are passionate about customer service and providing great experiences through golf to Australians of ages, backgrounds, and abilities.  We thank them for their wonderful contribution to our sport.

“We are delighted to observe that the disciplined commitment to execution of our Strategy for Australian Golf 2022-2025 is continuing to pay dividends for our game. Together with increases in participation, we are seeing a growing realisation that golf is a fun and highly accessible sport for all Australians.”

The key numbers released today:

  • 3.5 million Australians played golf in 2022-23, representing 17.6% of adult Australians – up from 2.7 million in 2021-22.
  • 2.2 million people played on a golf course at least once in 2022-23, with 50% of those people playing at least one form of alternative golf either on the driving range, on a simulator or on a mini-golf course.
  • A further 1.3 million people only played off-course.
  • Club membership increased 1.9%, with 8045 new members joining. The average age of these new members was 41 for men and boys and 52 for women and girls.
  • State-by-state membership growth: South Australia 5%, Tasmania 5%, Western Australia 3.4%, Queensland 1.9%, NSW 1.4%, Victoria 0.9%, Northern Territory -7%
  • Junior membership at clubs rose 9.3%.
  • Women and girls membership rose 12.6%, and men and boys membership rose 1.9% at clubs.
  • Numbers in the MyGolf participation program rose 22% year-on-year, and Get Into Golf numbers rose 39%

Image top: Grace Kim and Travis Smyth 2023 Credit: Golf Australia/Brett Costello; image centre: James Sutherland with Travis Smyth and Grace Kim 2023 Credit:Golf Australia / Brett Costello; image below: Golf Australia annual participation report cover.

Related Articles

27th November 2023 - Australian PGA Championship to continue its staging at Brisbane’s Royal Queensland Golf Club

20th November 2023 - Callaway Golf increases its commitment to Australian Golf organisations

18th November 2023 - Dates secured for 2024 LIV Golf Adelaide as data shows $65 million input to local economy

9th November 2023 - X-Golf to open new ‘golf entertainment’ in Rockingham

30th October 2023 - Golf Australia welcomes two new directors and new Chair

26th October 2023 - Golf Australia backs public golf facilities highlighting benefits of Moore Park Course

17th October 2023 - Australian Golf Industry Council report reveals golf contributes $3.3 billion to Australia

28th September 2023 - Golf Australia appoints Peter Margin as new Chair

18th August 2023 - Women leading the way as ‘Get Into Golf’ numbers surge across Australia

28th July 2023 - PGA Tour of Australasia continues to grow its golf tournament schedule

12th July 2023 - Growth of MyGolf and MyGolf Schools suggests promising future for the game

22nd October 2023 - NSW Government announces plans to transform half of Sydney’s Moore Park Golf Course to parkland

3rd June 2023 - Brimbank City Council takes back management of Keilor Public Golf Course

23rd February 2021 - James Sutherland calls for ‘need to protect’ public golf

23rd July 2019 - Cricket Australia exposed for exaggerating participation figures


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Active World

Since 2019, Active World's development team has been delivering a comprehensive single solution that caters to the diverse requirements of successfully operated and managed leisure centres. The…

read more

Aquatics / Billing / Fitness / Recreation / Technology

 
 

PerfectGym

Perfect Gym Solutions is a software as a service (SaaS) solution purpose-built to service the fitness industry, with over 1000 clients servicing over two million gym members across 40 countries making…

read more

Access / Fitness / Marketing / Recreation / Technology

 
 

GREENEDESK

Track. Engage. Retain GreeneDesk is a suite of cloud based software solutions helping health clubs, leisure centres and swim schools to effectively track progression, improve customer engagement and…

read more

Aquatics / Billing / Education / Fitness / Technology

 
 

Otium Planning Group

Otium Planning Group is a contemporary sport and leisure consultancy providing services in planning, facility development, management and funding for the sport, recreation and leisure industries…

read more

Aquatics / Consultants / Recreation / Sport / Venues

 
 

Ausfit

Ausfit began in 1992, providing software services to the health and fitness sector including ClubWise, a fully hosted web-based product which combines state of the art club management software,…

read more

Billing / Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 

METRA Australia

With industry leading solutions in design and durability you can improve your facilities with our access control operations, payment systems and flexible personal locker storage solutions. Your…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Fitness / Recreation / Security

 
 

Fun Wheels Pty Ltd

Fun Wheels Pty Ltd are the premium dealer in Australasia for the Dutch company BERG’s commercial and domestic products. Our flagship product is their revolutionary pedal go-kart – the…

read more

Attractions / Tourism / Venues

 
 

PlayRope

Playrope Aqua-Fun, are the Australian & New Zealand exclusive distributors for Vortex Aquatic Structures International, the world leader in aquatic playgrounds and urban water landscapes.…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Parks / Play / Recreation

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business