London, England: Rain and England’s run in the European Championships conspired to cause a decrease in golf rounds played in Great Britain in the second quarter of 2024 – but underlying indicators for golf remain encouraging, according to Sporting Insights.

Total rounds played per course in Great Britain dropped by 5% year-on-year in Q2, new research from Sporting Insights reveals.

Much of the damage was done during a wet April, which saw sizeable drops in rounds played in the Midlands, Scotland, and the North.

Smaller decline was visible in May, and there were green shoots in June, which was mostly drier and sunnier than usual, which helped offset lower than average temperatures. Two of the four regions (the North and the South) displayed growth.

In fact, the South region grew overall in Q2, up 2% versus the same months in 2023.

The news follows a drop in Q1 2024, and leaves the half-year picture in negative figures, with national rounds now down by -8% versus the first six months of 2023, with all four regions below last year’s levels, albeit the South barely so.

It should be noted, however, that the 5% year-on-year drop in Q2 is lower than the drop in the first three months of this year.

Sporting Insights’ John Bushell reflected: “We would obviously prefer to be reporting growth, but it’s just as important to observe and acknowledge the data when things aren’t so positive.

“Weather and England’s Euros exploits will undoubtedly have had an impact on these figures. So, while this is a second straight quarter of negative figures, we still think that a lot of the underlying indicators for golf are encouraging.

“Consumer confidence is picking up. Global golf participation continues to rise, and there is so much energy among brands, retailers, venues and service providers to protect what’s best about the sport while also innovating and broadening access, energy that was evident at the recent Stephen Proctor Golf Industry Lunch at The Open.

“Over the last two weeks, we have been treated to captivating Olympic golf events, full of storylines, with many of the best players in the world fighting for an Olympic medal that meant so much to them.”

*Sporting Insights is a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation