England Golf is celebrating a significant milestone as new annual participation figures reveal that club membership has grown by almost 20,000 golfers in the past year.
Total membership has risen from 730,602 in 2024 to 750,071 in 2025 – a 2.66% year‑on‑year increase – reinforcing the sport’s strong and sustained appeal across the country.
England Golf, the largest sports membership body in the country, has seen club membership grow by over 100,000 since 2021 – demonstrating that golf’s boom during the pandemic hasn’t showed any signs of stopping.
The latest data reveals encouraging growth across several key areas, particularly among young golfers. Junior membership surged by over 34% in 2025, rising from 46,028 to 61,483.
These gains reflect the impact of England Golf’s continued investment in junior pathways, school partnerships, and inclusive entry points designed to inspire young people to take up the game.
From the Junior Journey and Junior Hub Awards for clubs, to working with the Golf Foundation to get golf into schools, the governing body has provided and supported a host of avenues for youngsters to get into and enjoy the game.
England Golf Junior Development Manager Laura Yapp said: “We are delighted to see this growth and the positive impact our work is having. The rise in junior affiliations shows the strength of the Junior Journey, giving clubs a clear pathway to create meaningful opportunities for young players to try the game, learn new skills and develop at their own pace.
“Combined with Junior Hubs and initiatives like Girls Golf Rocks and Get into Golf Rookies, clubs are building truly welcoming, inclusive environments where young golfers can grow in confidence and feel part of a vibrant community. We look forward to the Junior Hubs Award continuing to grow as more clubs commit to supporting junior golf by providing a safe, welcoming place for them to play and develop.”
iGolf and iPlay
Beyond traditional club membership, England Golf’s digital participation platforms have seen exceptional growth. iGolf, the independent golfer programme, expanded by over 34% to reach 72,921 users in 2025.
Junior engagement within iGolf was particularly strong, with a 487% increase, demonstrating the growing appetite for non‑club‑based, digitally supported ways to enjoy the game.
iPlay, England Golf’s newest participation offer, also recorded significant growth. Numbers more than doubled from 5,738 to 12,562 – a 118.93% increase.
Growth was seen across all demographics, including a 210% amongst juniors, highlighting the platform’s success in providing accessible, flexible, and social formats of play.
England Golf Group Chief Executive Jeremy Tomlinson said: “We are thrilled to announce sizeable increases in golf club membership, iGolf and iPlay signups, as well as how many juniors are taking up the game – it really does bode well for the future of our sport.
“Inspiring more golfers is truly paying huge dividends…
“The England Golf 2025-2030 Strategy – Inspire More Golfers, does exactly what it says on the tin, by providing support, advices and information to help clubs and facilities within England create the widest appeal for anyone to play golf, understanding what a safe, inclusive, sustainable, and inspirational sport we truly are.
“These results underline a vibrant and evolving golfing landscape in England, with more people choosing to engage with the sport than ever before and in ways that suit their lifestyles.
“We will continue to build on this momentum and ensure golf remains welcoming, inclusive, and thriving for generations to come.”
