Frequently Asked Questions
1) How many golf courses are there in the world?
Various sources indicate that there are well over 31,000 full-length golf facilities in the world, of which there are 6,560 in Europe according to figures produced by the European Golf Association. The European Institute of Golf Course Architects estimates that there are 60 million golfers worldwide.
2) How many golfers are there in Europe?
The European Golf Association research shows that there are over 4.2 million registered golfers in Europe. However, not all European golfers are club members, the remainder play only on a green fee basis, and probably account for at least another 2 to 3 million players.
3) How much does it cost to buy a golf course?
How long is a piece of string? Obviously there are different types of course in different parts of the country. As an example only, we can report that Laceby Manor Golf Club in Lincolnshire was sold for a figure in excess of the guide price of £775,000 in 2007. A Hampshire golf course is currently on the market with a guide price of £2.4m. The facilities include an 18-hole course, 6-hole Par 3, leisure club and other facilities. Another example is Lostwithiel Hotel Golf & Country Club in Cornwall which was being marketed for sale in February 2008 by Humberts Leisure with a guide price of £2.25 to £2.5m. This property, which opened in 1991, has the benefit of 27 en-suite letting bedrooms and reportedly has an annual turnover in excess of £1.m. Most of the growth in new golf courses is taking place on the continent as the British market is fairly saturated. However, Savills Leisure report that the scarcity of properties on the market has assisted in supporting prices.
4) How much is the golf retail market in the UK worth each year?
There is not a precise figure for the size of the golf retail market - various estimates range from between £350 and £400 million a year.
5) How many golf shops are there in the UK?
There are approximately 2,500 golf retail outlets in the UK, but there are no precise figures available.
6) How much does it cost to play golf in the UK?
The average joining fee in England is £738 for men and £686 for women according to the English Golf Union with average annual subscriptions being £630 for adult men and £580 for women. These figures are based on the 2006 EGU golf club survey.
7) Where is the most expensive green fee in Europe?
At £285 for visitors to play the West Course, we think the Wentworth Golf Club currently has the most expensive mid-week green fee in Europe.
8) How many driving ranges are there in the UK?
The UK has over 800 driving ranges with 96% of them open to the general public.
9) Are all UK golf course memberships full?
We currently only have information about memberships in England. EGU research indicates that 77% of golf clubs are actively seeking new members. The EGU estimates that there are currently over 90,000 vacancies throughout all affiliated golf clubs {based on 2006 data}.
10) What proportion of golfers is female?
In the UK & Ireland, 15% of adult club members are female based on 2007 figures. Europe as a whole has higher levels of female golfer participation with, for example, the Netherlands having 33% female club members (adult) and Sweden 27%.
11) What proportion of golfers are juniors?
Junior golf club members in the UK & Ireland account for approximately 9% of the total number of members based on 2007 figures. Some countries appear to have more success in attracting juniors to the game, for example Sweden where just under 15% of the registered golfing population are juniors.