Australian competition rounds soar in 2020 despite Covid-19
Good news for golf
Golf Australia has reported that most of Australia is enjoying a soaring number of golf rounds played compared to previous years.
The positive findings, in Australia and in many other parts of the world, can be linked to the varying restrictions being endured across the country in 2020.
Golf’s ability to comply with Covid-19 health advise has provided the sport with a golden opportunity to grow during the pandemic when other sports have been restricted.
Key findings
In this annual club participation report – Australian Golf Rounds – Trends and Impacts of Covid-19 report, Golf Australia concludes that golf is experiencing a boom, despite the pandemic.
The report also confirms that rounds played nationally are only down a mere 1 percent compare to last year, despite Victoria’s extended period of lockdown.
Some of the key findings in the report are summarised below:
Pre Covid:
- Member demand increasing for the first time in 21 years.
- Total competition rounds up by 2.1% topping 10 million.
- Total 9-hole rounds increasing by 100,000 over the prior year.
From April 2020
- With post first wave course re-openings, significantly stronger rounds demand through the winter months has resulted in near all of the 16% YTD deficit clawed back.
- The YTD national results have been materially impacted by the increased restrictions in place in Victoria.
- Removing Victoria, the national result YTD August of -1% moves to +4%, with an extra 218,000 competition rounds being played YTD August vs 2019.
- The YTD data indicates that rounds growth has predominantly occurred in the Metropolitan markets, up 8% YTD when excluding Victoria.
- Regional market growth has been more subdued at +2%.• Growth by gender has been more consistent at +3% for females and +4% for males respectively.
- 44% growth in the 20-49 Cohort since May.
Click here to read the full report.
