REPORT: Australian Golf Participation Soars to Record High
Golf in Australia is experiencing unprecedented growth, with total adult participation surpassing four million players in the 2024/25 period—the highest figure ever recorded. Driven by a 5.2% year-on-year increase across both on-course and off-course formats, the game is transforming, leading Golf Australia (GA) to launch the Golf Australia Club flexible handicap subscription to support the rising number of regular, non-club players.
Key Participation Findings (2024/25 Golf Club Participation Report)
The surge is being powered by new and emerging demographics, reflecting deliberate efforts to increase accessibility and diversity within the sport:
| Category | Statistic | Details |
| Total Adult Participation | 4 million+ | Highest ever recorded, up 5.2% year-on-year across all formats. |
| Non-Club Golfers | 1.8 million | Australians who play on-course golf regularly without belonging to a club. |
| Traditional Club Members | 477,220 | Marking the fifth consecutive year of growth. |
| Club Membership Growth | +24.1% since 2017/18 | The strongest sustained growth in more than 30 years. |
| Regional Membership Growth | +3% | Increased regional club membership to 259,333, double the rate of metropolitan club growth. |
| New Members Under 35 | 41.6% | Percentage of new club members under the age of 35, double the proportion of existing under-35 members (19%). |
| Junior Membership Growth | +17.9% | Resulting in the number of under-18 members more than doubling (+112%) in the last five years. |
| MyGolf Registrations | 40,000+ | Registrations for the national program, up 11%. |
| TeeMates Growth | +25% | Growth in the flexible junior memberships. |
| Get Into Golf (GIG) Growth | +10% | Year-on-year increase in adult introductory program. |
| Women in GIG | 88% | Percentage of GIG participants who are women. |
| Social Membership Growth | +14.8% | Growth rate of social club memberships, over four times the rate of traditional club growth. |
| Off-Course Play | 1.5 million+ | People hitting balls at driving ranges, simulators, and entertainment venues. |
Golf Australia Club Launch
Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland emphasized that the data points to a clear need to engage the 1.8 million regular golfers who are not yet affiliated with a club. These social memberships are currently growing at a rapid rate of 14.8%.
To support this segment and strengthen the pipeline to future club membership, GA has launched Golf Australia Club, providing these golfers with an official GA Handicap, insurance, and access to the Golf Australia App.
Sutherland stated, “The data shows that growth is coming from younger and more diverse communities… Golf Australia Club will provide a simple, flexible, and affordable way to start or continue their journey in the sport.”
