New figures from The R&A and England Golf show the Covid participation boom is still very much alive. But do we need to think differently about the record numbers playing at our clubs?
These numbers don’t lie. The huge rise in golf participation we’ve seen since the Covid pandemic in 2020 is still here.
But is it just about the figures? Beneath the headlines generated about player numbers and score submissions into the World Handicap System, is there another factor golf club managers need to consider? Is the nature of participation shifting?
The stats from England Golf and The R&A revealed a clear picture. Not only are huge numbers of people playing the game, they are playing it in different ways.
That isn’t just a good news story, though. There are signals for every manager within the data…
What are the numbers saying?
- The R&A’s Global Participation Report says there are 108 million people engaging with the sport – with 43.3 million playing 9- or 18-hole on course golf
- The first six months of 2025 saw more than 5.75 million scores submitted into the WHS platform in England – a 29% rise year on year
- April 2025 saw a 98% increase in submissions compared to April 2024
- General play scores and 9-hole scores continue to surge. Are more casual formats now becoming a preferred way people want to engage with the game?
Of course, the glorious spring and summer weather has played a significant factor in getting players out onto our courses. But the sport is also becoming more accessible and more digitally integrated. Does this present an opportunity for your club?
How can golf clubs capitalise on these numbers?
For all the WHS narrative can be dominated by the negatives – particularly around manipulation – the rise in score submissions suggests something different.
It tells you more golfers are engaging with their handicaps, something England Golf has been signposting for some time. So what does that mean for clubs and how can you make it easier for members and visitors?
Score submissions are a marker of engagement
It’s easy to dismiss WHS returns as just something else to monitor but it’s not simply a question of numbers. It also indicates loyalty. It shows not only that players are logging scores, but they are returning and participating.
How does your club support WHS score entry? Is it easy to do on mobile? Can you answer WHS-related questions if asked by a member or visitor? Do you allow any general play scores to be submitted on days when a competition is taking place?
Cater for shorter formats
No longer can you dismiss 9-hole golf as a fad. New players and busy members are strongly engaging in shorter formats – reflecting a demand for a sport which can be flexible for their time-poor lives.
It’s not just new and younger players who are turning to this. Does your club run 9-hole competitions? Could they be included within your tee sheet and competition calendar?
If this was a way of keeping players that might otherwise leave the club, why wouldn’t you consider it?
Clubs need to embrace the independent golfer
There are more than 55,000 of them using iGolf in England alone. Non-club members with official handicaps account for around 7% of players with a WHS index.
But this doesn’t just show the wider appetite for golf – these players are your potential customers and your next members. If you’re not engaging with them, you’re just missing out.
Yet some clubs still remain suspicious of independent golfers, refusing to allow them to enter Open events, and restricting their access.
Is this a mistake? The numbers of players who have transitioned into membership indicate a readiness to belong. Do you market to iGolf subscribers? Could you offer short-term or trial memberships to try and draw them in?
You’ve got the data – use it
There has never been a better time to understand who engages with your club and how they are doing it. WHS scores, digital bookings, CRM tools – all give you valuable insight and can inform your future strategies.
Who is playing the most at your club? Who logs scores? Who hasn’t been seen in a while? You can use these figures, alongside your tee-time data, to segment your membership and tailor retention strategies and offers.
Participation growth is only part of the story
It’s great to see the numbers and they are a guide to the wider health of the golf industry. But behind the figures, format and frequency are just as important. Clubs that understand the statistics and use them to their advantage will continue to be ahead of the game.
Three takeaway learnings
1 More people are playing the sport than ever before – but the way they are engaging with golf is changing.
2 The record numbers of scores submitted to the World Handicap System show players are committed to their golfing journeys. Your club needs to facilitate that path and make it easier.
3 Clubs need to take advantage of data to profile their members and playing habits to better tailor their retention strategies and offers.
What do you think?
Is your club seeing a rise in WHS participation? Have you changed the way you plan competitions in the wake of demand for shorter formats or because of the number of general play scores? How has your club helped to increase score submissions? Share your thoughts with us by emailing [email protected] or get in touch to take part in a case study.
Picture courtesy of The R&A
