Golf Australia in conjunction with Golf Management Australia (GMA) is pleased to present the 2015 National Golf Club Participation Report.

The fourth report of its kind, noted a 0.5% decline in national membership numbers in the 2015 year. Membership pressure is more evident in regional areas, accounting for 60% of the national member mix, where an overall decline of 0.9% was reported. Whilst club membership numbers in metropolitan areas fell by 0.4%, the report highlights that 34% of clubs across Australia reported a net increase in member numbers in 2015. Further, as a lead indicator to future demand outcomes, the report also notes that the national club member attrition rate also fell to 9%, down from 12% when first measured last year.

Also detailed in the report are the national competition rounds played outcomes for 2015. This data showed that there was a continuation of the growth in competition rounds being played, with a 1.9% increase recorded in 2015.

Cameron Wade, Director of Golf Development at Golf Australia said “The 2015 outcome is the smallest annual membership decline recorded since 1999. Off the back of another sub 1% membership decline in 2014, a declining attrition rate and steady growth in competition rounds played, these results present an encouraging outlook for club golf in Australia.”

Other key findings in the report include:

· National membership numbers across Australia were reported as 397,063 golfers.
· Females account for 20% of national members – a 1% decline from 2014.
· Reported member numbers for social clubs have increased over the past five-years from 10,975 in 2011 to 20,745 in 2015.
· The average age of club members across the country is just over 55 years with the average age of male members (53.4 years) being 9 years younger than females (62.5 years).
· 54% of the national club golf membership base is aged 55 years or greater.
· Junior members under the age of 18 account for 3.6% of total members.

Click here to view the full report.