The R&A has released its 2024 Global Golf Participation Report, highlighting a significant surge in golf activity across Asia
The game of golf is seeing steady growth around the world, with new figures from The R&A’s latest report showing more than 108 million adults and juniors now playing the sport outside the USA & Latin America—a nearly 3 million increase from last year.
For the first time, The R&A’s Global Participation Report includes combined data for juniors and adults, giving a fuller picture of golf’s reach across traditional and non-traditional formats. While 64.1 million adults play golf in some form—an increase of 1.8 million from 2023—what stands out is the number of juniors: 43.9 million, with the vast majority exploring the sport through driving ranges, simulators, and other accessible formats.
Asia leads the world outside the USA, in adult participation with 26.2 million golfers, followed by Europe (20.3 million) and Canada (6.9 million). Junior participation is highest in Europe, where 18.5 million young players are engaged.
Traditional golf is holding strong too, with 43.3 million people playing nine or 18 holes—up from 42.7 million last year. Registered club membership also continues its steady climb, now at 8.4 million, up from 7.4 million in 2020.
Women now make up 31% of adult participation overall, and half of all adults playing off-course formats in The R&A’s biggest markets.
With continued investment—including £200 million over 10 years—and new efforts like ‘Just Swing’, The R&A is making the sport more inviting and inclusive than ever before.
Photo – APGC