New global golf participation figures show a sharp rise in just the last year.
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.
The research shows that 65 million adults are now playing golf, up one million on 2024. Notably, 47.1 million juniors are participating in the sport, an increase of 3.2 million in just one year.
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.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.
Asia is the leading region for adults playing golf among R&A affiliated regions, with a 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 the largest in Europe with 19.9 million golfers.
Overall, there has been a 16 percent growth in registered players since 2020, at about 18,500 golf courses in R&A affiliated nations worldwide.
In Great Britain and Ireland alone, membership of golf clubs dropped to a low of just over a million in 2019. That figure now stands at 1.35 million – the highest it’s been since 2010.
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