London, England: The number of golf entertainment venues in urban areas will double in the coming years – and green grass courses need to ‘bridge the gap’ through closer connections or investing in their own simulators.

That’s the view of Jay Karen, Chief Executive Officer of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), speaking exclusively to Syngenta Golf’s latest Changing the Business of Golf podcast.

Karen said: “We’ve got millions of people trying golf by hitting into screens. We’ve got to create connective tissue somehow. We’re at 2,300 facilities right now, and it’s foreseeable that in 10 to 15 years’ time it could be double that.”

Karen also sees growth potential in younger generations, many of whom lack access to public golf courses. He explained that partnering with public sector programmes to introduce golf in community spaces could lead to ‘explosive growth’.

He said: “There are thousands of communities that don’t have golf courses. But they have programming, which is where 90% of parents take their kids. If golf is not found there then we are missing a huge opportunity.”

In a wide-ranging discussion, Karen outlined further changes he would like to see in the industry, including golf businesses becoming more proactive in telling their sustainability story and engaging local government to improve public perception and policy support.

He also highlights the evolving landscape of tee-time marketing and sales, stressing the importance of golf course owners maintaining control over bookings, payments, and customer data amid the rise of third-party digital platforms. Karen calls for industry collaboration to protect these vital customer relationships.

The episode is now available to listen or watch on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

*Syngenta is an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.