The latest report from Sport England shows that golf participation is continuing to hold strongly, despite bad winter weather and flooding.
The Active People Survey for the 12 months to March 2016 says that 738,200 people aged over 16 are currently playing golf at least once a week. This highlights a period of stability which has now extended over the last three sets of results.
The latest survey results are published just two days after Sports Minister David Evennett supported the work of the England Golf Partnership (EGP) to grow the game.
He spoke of the Government’s commitment to increasing participation at a reception at the Palace of Westminster, hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Golf Group.
“It is clear to me and to the Government that the benefits of golf are very far reaching,” he said, referencing golf’s huge popularity as the country’s fifth most-played sport, its wide reach across all backgrounds and abilities, its contribution to the economy and its part in supporting the Government’s sports strategy to tackle inactivity.
The reception drew attention to initiatives to increase participation. These include the Get into golf campaign, supported by Sky Sports, which offers great value coaching courses with PGA professionals; and Golf Express, which has just been launched nationally to promote the nine-hole game to busy people. Clubs across the country are invited to join the campaign and promote 9-hole green fees and offers to players on the GolfExpress9.org website.
EGP Chairman Nic Coward said: “It was great for all involved in English golf to hear the Sports Minister’s support for the game at every level and for the huge work put in by so many people, which is reflected in strong participation figures. It is a real boost that Government wants to see even more from golf and supports our work to encourage more people to play and, ultimately, to play more often.”
Click here to read more about the Active People Survey
England Golf Partnership www.englandgolfpartnership.com