England Golf is reporting that April was a record-breaking month for scores submitted through the World Handicap System, with over 1.4 million scores submitted in England during what was the sunniest April ever recorded.
As an indicator that the golf boom is still in full swing, England Golf also reported over 5,200 golfers joining its iGolf membership scheme last month. Launched in 2021 to provide non-club members with a Handicap Index, iGolf now has 60,000 subscribers, with April seeing a significant surge in new sign-ups.
The 1.4 million WHS scores submitted in April were the highest submitted for this period since records began, as well as a 95% increase on scores submitted during the same month last year.
From January to April, England Golf has also seen 67% more scores submitted through the WHS compared to 2024, which was its record-breaking year to date, with 10.2 million scores submitted.
April’s unseasonably good weather clearly played a big part in driving up the numbers. According to the Met Office, last month saw sunshine hours up by 47% over the long-term meteorological average, while temperatures were 1.7°C above average – all of which encouraged more golfers to get out on the course again following a cold, wet winter.
Claire Hodgson, Head of iGolf/iPlay, said: “In July last year we had 3,989 people subscribe to iGolf, which was our previous record, so it’s been smashed by some way this April. It really has been a remarkable month, not just for people signing up for iGolf, but for people getting out on the course and playing. Whether some of it has been down to the weather or the ‘Rory’ factor, it’s fantastic to see so many people being inspired to get a Handicap Index and play more golf.”
Over 16,500 iGolfers have also now made the transition into golf club membership, showing a clear pathway for people to get into the game. But it’s also at the other end of the pathway where England Golf has seen encouraging signs.
iPlay – launched in late 2023 – is a free, user-friendly service within the MyEG app and allows golfers to enter their scores at golf courses and golf facilities, including adventure golf courses, providing them with an ‘average score indicator’.
And Hodgson revealed: “We have created a pathway for everyone to get into the game of golf. Whether it’s beginners or infrequent players using iPlay, or iGolf catering for golfers who can’t justify club membership just yet, the numbers are showing that it’s paying dividends.
“Over 760 iPlay users have moved into iGolf to date, while we’ve already had over 3,800 iGolfers take up golf club membership this year, which shows the role both offers play in supporting the wider game.
“The pathway is clear for golfers – from iPlay, to iGolf, to club membership – and it’s great that the statistics are showing that more and more people are getting into our sport and progressing through the offers developed by England Golf within the MyEG app.”