Rising rounds played have yielded a series of records at the half-way stage of 2025.
Both second quarter and half-year figures are at record levels, according to Sporting Insights rounds played monitor, which has comparative data for the last 20 years.
Compared to 2024, rounds played are up by +25% for the quarter and +23% for the half-year.
GROWTH AROUND GREAT BRITAIN
While Q1 delivered parity with the boom years of 2022 and 2023, Q2 has surpassed them. Rounds played were up by double digits in every region, by over 20% in three of the four regions, with the north of England the strongest overall.
Any fears golf courses may have felt in a relatively weak start to 2024 are now receding firmly into the realm of memory.
“There is a buzz in golf that will have been immediately apparent to anyone who attended The 153rd Open Championship or last week’s AIG Women’s Open Championship”
Monthly Trends: Q2 2025 in Detail
- April: All four regions saw their most significant year-on-year boosts in April, suggesting an early and busy start to the golf season. As well as a relatively week comparative performance in 2024, this reflects favourable weather, anticipation after the winter lull, and perhaps new club offers enticing golfers back to the fairways. The Rory McIlroy effect, completing the career Grand Slam in such dramatic fashion at Augusta, must also have had an impact.
- May: The momentum continued into May, with each region maintaining positive growth, up +24%.
- June: Rounds played in June were up +12%, providing a strong finish to the quarter and setting an optimistic tone for the remainder of the year. It should also be remembered that June’s figures from 2024 were historically strong, and so outperformance here by a double-digit margin is arguably just as encouraging as the higher growth numbers in April and May.
Looking Forward
The Q2 2025 figures paint a picture of a sport in robust health, with momentum that shows no signs of slowing. Other participation metrics back up what we are seeing in terms of on-course play, including record numbers of scores submitted for handicapping purposes in England.
With 2025 on track (for now at least) to set new records for golf in Great Britain, the challenge now is for clubs, venues and brands to capitalise on the momentum, investing rising revenues well, and ensuring that golf continues to be packaged in such a way as to be inviting and accessible to all.
John Bushell, Managing Director of Sporting Insights, commented. “It’s great to be able to share these figures with the industry after such captivating weeks at both the men’s and women’s Open Championships. There is a buzz in golf that will have been immediately apparent to anyone who attended The 15rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush or The AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, and it is extremely pleasing to see that reflected on the course over recent months.
One relative unknown is the impact of the earlier conclusion to the majors, which is still quite a recent evolution, although it certainly did not seem to dim enthusiasm last year if we look back to the Q3 numbers. Still, with both men’s and women’s majors now concluded for the year, it will be interesting to see how the momentum is maintained through the end of summer and into the start of Autumn.
For now, huge congratulations to everyone involved in delivering such excellent service and keeping golfers so engaged through the first half of 2025.”
Since 2000, Sporting Insights has tracked rounds played at commercial golf courses across mainland Great Britain. For more information or to purchase the full report, contact us today. N.B., all records are comparable back to 2005.
