A recent survey found that Ireland has the highest participation rate among Europe’s golfing population, Dermot Gilleece reports.
At £140 sterling for one round, the celebrated West Course at Wentworth is Europe’s most expensive golfing stretch. And a recent survey also established that at 10.9 per cent, Ireland has the highest participation rate among Europe’s golfing population.
The survey, carried out by the London-based Golf Research Group, indicates that European golf has grown a remarkable 54 per cent in the last 10 years. But in continental Europe this growth is even more impressive at 85 per cent.
Still, we have a long way to go on this side of the Atlantic before we canhope to match the enthusiasm of our brethren in the United States. Only 1.4 per cent of Europe’s population play golf compared with nine per cent in the US.
The acceleration in the growth of European golf is a modern phenomenon. It took 50 years for teh number of courses to grow from 1,000 to 2,000 whereas the figure has risen from 4,000 to 5,000 in the last four years. The 5,000 barrier was passed last summer.
A breakdown of the growth shows that during the early part of this decade, as many as 250 new courses were opening for play each year. That rate has now modified to what is perceived as a more sustainable 150 per year.
Ireland, England, Germany were the largest growth areas during that period, but it is expected that Germany and Spain will be the pace-setters in the coming years.
Measuring the availability of golf in terms of teh number of people per 18 holes, Europe has an average of 77,000 persons per course. By comparison, the figure drops to an enviable 23,000 per course in the US. Meanwhile, there are sharp differences within Europe itself.
Population Per 18 Holes (000’s)
Ireland, England, Germany were the largest growth areas during that period, but it is expected that Germany and Spain will be the pace-setters in the coming years.
Measuring the availability of golf in terms of the number of people per 18 holes, Europe has an average of 77,000 persons per course. By comparison, the figure drops to an enviable 23,000 per course in the US. Meanwhile, there are sharp differences within Europe itself.
As the accompanying graph indicates, Scotland heads the supply list with one course per 12,000 people but Italy, where the game is confined to the very wealthy, is at the bottom of the list with a course for every 443,000 of its population.
Though Wentworth is obviously for the well-heeled, the average green fee throughout Europe is a more accessible £17.50 stg; it is possible to join a club for £500 and annual subscription averages out at £380. But again, there are sharp regional variations, ranging from entrance fees of £7,660 in Switzerland, down to £140 in Finland.