London, England: A fourth quarter surge ensured that the average number of rounds played per course in Great Britain in 2024 recovered to just below 2023 levels.

After three successive quarters of declining rounds played (versus 2023), the fourth quarter bucked the trend, according to research conducted by Sporting Insights, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

Average rounds rose by 17% across the country, including by 30% in the north of England. As a result, the average rounds played figure for the year ended down just 2% nationally.

Two of the regions, the north and the south, saw slightly more golf played in 2024 than in 2023. The levels of tee-time usage were also higher in 2024 than in 2022 on average.

Looking at October, November, and December individually, levels of golf play were higher in each month of the quarter than in either 2023 or 2022.

The findings suggest that what many had been arguing was a ‘decline’ back towards pre-pandemic levels has been over-stated with 2024’s year-end figures comparable not just to 2023 (down -2%) but fractionally higher than 2022.

“Upon publishing the half-year figures last year, we suggested that a lot of underlying indicators for growth were still strong. After a Q3 that was effectively flat against 2023 and now a strong Q4, we still feel that analysis holds,” said John Bushell, joint Managing Director of Sporting Insights.

He added: “As fashionable as it can be to put golf down, the truth is that the sport has demonstrated now over multiple years a sustained boost in participation, especially female participation, and in the total amount of play.

“Key metrics don’t get much more key than that. That is not to deny challenges, though. Golf is not immune to economic pressures affecting discretionary spending, and we know that many clubs are also feeling the pinch of rising operational costs, which will be a theme of 2025 and beyond.

“However, the bottom line is that golf does appear to have become a critical part of so many people’s lives that it is so far weathering the economic storm, at least as far as appetite to step up to the tee goes.

“We also know that, outside the scope of this report, more people are playing alternative formats and shorter forms of golf, which is contributing to a wider boost in different types of golf play. Golf is still in great health and we are positive for 2025.”