Golf Participation Grows to Record High of 108 Million in R&A Affiliated Regions. With combined adult and junior data released for the first time in the 2024 Global Participation Report, there are 108 million adults and juniors playing golf across all formats of the sport in The R&A’s affiliated markets – an increase of almost three million golfers since 2023.
The new research detailing on-course golfers (9 and 18-hole) and golfers who play other formats – such as indoor simulator golf, adventure golf and driving range use – is based on information provided by national federations in Asia, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania; and R&A commissioned research. The report excludes the USA and Mexico which fall under the jurisdiction of the USGA.
The research figures highlight total adult participation of 64.1 million – adult golfers playing one or more of the many formats of golf – an increase of 1.8 million since 2023.
With the addition of junior data for the first time – thanks to new analytical tools in R&A affiliated markets across the world – total junior participation is 43.9 million, with 80% of young people engaging with the sport through formats that are not 9 or 18-hole on-course golf.
The sport continues to increase in popularity among on-course golfers, with 43.3 million adults and juniors playing 9 and 18-hole golf in 2024 – up from 42.7 million in 2023. Given the rise of non-traditional formats of the sport, more golfers are now playing other formats than 9 or 18-hole on-course golf.
The number of registered golfers – those members of a golf club within their national association or affiliated through a direct subscription – has increased from 8.2 to 8.4 million and reflects a sustained growth from 7.4 million in 2020.
Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “I am delighted to see participation continue to grow in our affiliated markets across the world, encompassing 148 countries. Over 100 million people playing golf in some format is significant and highlights the sport’s sustained appeal.
“The growth in non-traditional formats such as driving ranges, adventure golf and simulator golf, is helping drive participation among adults and juniors on a global scale while on-course activity also remains very popular.
“The millions of juniors enjoying the sport across all formats offers huge potential for future growth. New golfer participation programs with appealing propositions are important for encouraging more people into the sport, transitioning many into on-course golf and retaining them in greater numbers.
“The broad appeal of golf is testament to the endeavors of so many involved in the industry and I thank our affiliated national federations and partners around the world for their hard work as we collectively grow the sport.”
Asia is the leading region for adults playing golf among R&A affiliated regions, with total adult participation of 26.2 million. Europe is second highest with 20.3 million adults and Canada next best with 6.9 million adults. Total junior participation is largest in Europe with 18.5 million golfers.
In The R&A’s nine biggest markets, women make up 31% of total adult participation and 25% of all 9 and 18-hole adult golfers. Across other formats – not 9 and 18-hole golf – in those key markets, women make up 50% of total adult participation.
The opportunity to move from other formats to on-course golf is evident in further research from The R&A on pathways into golf, which shows that 37% of on-course golfers in Canada played alternative formats before they played on a golf course, with 36% doing so in England.
The R&A is continuing its commitment to invest £200 million over ten years (2017-2026) in developing golf across the world, including encouraging participation through various initiatives such as the ‘Just Swing’ campaign launched in March and its Golf It! facility in Glasgow opened in 2023.
With The 153rd Open staged at Royal Portrush this week, The R&A’s work is featured in a new video released today, narrated by Northern Irish actor James Nesbitt. Proceeds from The Open, golf’s original championship, are reinvested in growing and supporting the sport on a global scale, from grassroots to the elite level.
About the DP World Tour
The DP World Tour is the main men’s professional golf tour of the European Tour group.
As golf’s global tour, we showcase global talent in global destinations and use our platform to build, entertain and connect our global community.
GLOBAL TALENT: We provide pathways and a platform for the leading international talent, bringing together golfing icons, national heroes and emerging stars from around the world.
GLOBAL DESTINATIONS: We stage tournaments in iconic cities and locations around the world and each week we celebrate and showcase the rich diversity of the courses, cities and cultures we visit.
GLOBAL COMMUNITY: We build, entertain and connect communities through our commitment to innovation, creative content and having a positive social and environmental impact.
Our 2025 Global Schedule features 42 tournaments in 26 different countries and comprises three distinct phases: five ‘Global Swings’, the ‘Back 9’ and the ‘DP World Tour Play-Offs’. It features five Rolex Series events – the premium category of events on the DP World Tour – and four Major Championships, all of which count towards the Race to Dubai Rankings, the Tour’s season-long competition which concludes at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
DP World, the leading provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, has been the title partner of the DP World Tour since the start of the 2022 season, the Tour’s 50th season following its formation in 1972.
We also enjoy the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with DP World, Rolex, Aldar, BMW, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Emirates, Fortinet and Vestas as Official Partners.
About the European Tour group
The European Tour group administers the DP World Tour, the HotelPlanner Tour, the Legends Tour and the G4D Tour and, as the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe LLP, stages golf’s greatest team contest, the Ryder Cup, in partnership with the PGA of America.
The European Tour group has Strategic Partnerships with the PGA TOUR, the Sunshine Tour, the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, the China Golf Association (CGA), the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), and the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India. These partnerships provide global pathways for players from across the world to compete internationally on the DP World Tour, the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group which was established in 1972, as well as the HotelPlanner Tour.
