Opening Golf to the World
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Junior golf growth helps drive sustained increase in global participation
04 Jun 26
5 mins
New participation figures published today by The R&A highlight the current participation boom in the sport around the world, notably among juniors.
New research in the 2025 R&A Global Participation Report shows that 112.2 million adults and juniors are now playing golf in all its forms worldwide outside of the USA and Mexico – marking an increase of 4.2 million golfers year-on-year. With The R&A recently unveiling a new five-year global strategy aiming to open golf to millions more people, the research underlines the sport’s growing appeal and provides a strong platform for long-term development. The research also shows that 65 million adults are now playing golf, up 1 million on 2024. Notably, 47.1 million juniors are participating in the sport, an increase of 3.2 million in just one year, to highlight the importance of younger players in shaping the sport’s long-term future. Off-course golf continues to experience strong growth with 68.3 million adults and juniors engaging in a range of formats. Shorter formats, driving range activity and simulator-based experiences are not only attracting new participants, but are also playing a vital role in keeping the sport relevant in a more time-constrained and experience-led environment.
More than 47 million juniors across the globe are now engaging in golf.
The number of registered golfers – members of a golf club or otherwise affiliated to their national federation through a direct subscription – also increased from 8.4 to 8.7 million. Overall, there has been a 16% growth in registered players since 2020.
2025 Global Participation Report: Key Statistics
- 112.2m people playing golf (adult + junior) – up 3% since 2024
- 65m adults playing golf – up 1% since 2024
- 47.1m juniors playing golf – up 6% since 2024
- 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 20.6 million adults and Canada next best with 7.1 million adults
- Total junior participation is largest in Europe with 19.9 million golfers
- 43.9m total 9 & 18 hole golfers (registered and unregistered) – up 1% since 2024
- 8.7m registered golfers – up 2% since 2024
- 18,500 golf courses in R&A affiliated nations worldwide
Overview of Key Areas
Based on The R&A’s purpose of ‘opening golf to the world’, the new strategy aims to have more people playing and engaging with golf more frequently worldwide. Focusing on key areas of the 2025 Global Participation Report, including women, juniors and health, the following statistics and statements highlight sustained participation growth since 2024. At a regional level, growth patterns are becoming more differentiated. Established markets in Europe continue to provide a strong foundation, while emerging regions are contributing in distinct ways, including notable gains in registered participation in parts of Central and South America.Registered golfers
- Central & South America 122,000 to 146,000 – up 20%
- Canada 550,000 to 593,000 – up 8%
- Africa 312,000 to 329,000 – up 6%
- Oceania 615,000 to 644,000 – up 5%
- Europe 4.7m to 4.9m – up 3%
9 & 18 hole golfers
- Oceania 2.57m to 2.69m – up 5%
- Central & South America 0.27m to 0.28m – up 4%
- Africa 0.72m to 0.74m – up 3%
- Canada 5.7m to 5.8m – up 2%
- Europe 13.6 to 14.0m – up 2%
- Great Britain and Ireland 5.8m to 6.1m – up 5%
- Australia 2.3m to 2.4m – up 4%
- Canada 5.7m to 5.8m – up 2%
The number of women playing golf around the world continues to rise.
Women’s representation
In The R&A’s nine biggest markets for adult participation:- All 9 & 18 hole adult golfers, 28% women – up from 25%
- Other format adult golfers (not 9 & 18 hole), 53% women – up from 50%
- Total adult participation, 34% women – up from 31%
- In Germany, 41% of adult participants are women
- In Argentina, 36% of adult participants are women
- In GB&I, 33% of adult participants are women
- In Australia, 31% of adult participants are women
Junior golfers
- Total junior participation is largest in Europe with 19.9 million golfers, then 9.7m in Asia, 7.4m in Africa and Central & South America 4.5m.
- Registered junior golfers highest in Europe with 0.78m, then Asia with 0.22m.
- In GB&I, of those households with children aged 6-17 in them – 70% had taken part in some form of golf activity in the last 12 months.
- In GB&I, 12.5% of households with children aged 6-17 had played golf at a driving range with range technology, highlighting the rise of gamification formats.
Health
In GB&I, based on the general population (including golfers and non-golfers): Golf is seen as delivering real meaningful health benefits to those playing the sport across different formats, with the following strong levels of agreement with health and wellbeing statements (agree + strongly agree):- Good way to exercise outdoors (77%)
- Good for your health (75%)
- Gives a sense of freedom and relaxation (74%)
- Good way to relieve stress (72%)
- Good way to feel refreshed and rejuvenated (69%)