New figures from The R&A reveal that golf continues to grow worldwide, with the 2024 Global Participation Report showing a combined total of 108 million adults and juniors now playing the sport across all formats in The R&A’s affiliated markets — an increase of nearly three million from last year.
This is the first time the report includes combined adult and junior participation data, providing a broader picture of global engagement with golf. The numbers are drawn from on-course formats (nine and 18-hole) as well as other forms of the game, such as driving ranges, indoor simulators, and adventure golf. Data was gathered from national federations in Asia, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania, along with commissioned research. The United States and Mexico are not included, as they fall under the jurisdiction of the USGA.
In total, 64.1 million adults are now participating in golf in at least one format, an increase of 1.8 million since 2023. Junior participation, measured for the first time thanks to new analytics, sits at 43.9 million — with 80 percent of juniors engaging in non-traditional formats rather than on-course play.
The number of people playing nine or 18-hole golf has also seen a modest increase, with 43.3 million adults and juniors now playing on-course golf compared to 42.7 million in 2023. However, the popularity of other formats now surpasses traditional play, marking a major shift in how the game is experienced globally.
Registered golfers — those belonging to golf clubs or affiliated directly through national associations — have risen to 8.4 million, continuing steady growth from 7.4 million in 2020.
Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, said, “I am delighted to see participation continue to grow in our affiliated markets across the world, encompassing 148 countries. Over 100 million people playing golf in some format is significant and highlights the sport’s sustained appeal.
“The growth in non-traditional formats such as driving ranges, adventure golf and simulator golf, is helping drive participation among adults and juniors on a global scale while on-course activity also remains very popular.
“The millions of juniors enjoying the sport across all formats offers huge potential for future growth. New golfer participation programmes with appealing propositions are important for encouraging more people into the sport, transitioning many into on-course golf and retaining them in greater numbers.
“The broad appeal of golf is testament to the endeavours of so many involved in the industry and I thank our affiliated national federations and partners around the world for their hard work as we collectively grow the sport.”
Asia remains the top region for adult golf participation among R&A territories, with 26.2 million adults playing the sport. Europe follows with 20.3 million, and Canada ranks third with 6.9 million. Europe also leads junior participation with 18.5 million young players.
In The R&A’s nine biggest markets, women represent 31 percent of all adult players and 25 percent of adults playing nine or 18-hole golf. However, women make up 50 percent of adults engaging in alternative golf formats in those same markets.
Further research by The R&A highlights the potential of these non-traditional formats as gateways to on-course play. In Canada, 37 percent of on-course golfers started with alternative formats, while in England that figure is 36 percent.
