ABSTRACT
America continues to be the largest golf market globally, and is thought to contain half of the total number of the world’s courses and players. In 2011 estimations concluded that the sport contributed US$70 billion to the economy. However, there is an alarming trend which continues to plague the sport. Participation rates have dropped 18 per cent since 2006 and the US is not alone in seeing this trend. In the UK, the number of people who are members of golf clubs has been steadily declining since 2004, and monthly participation is 25 per cent lower than in 2007. Club membership numbers in Australia have fallen by 20 per cent since 1998 and participation in Japan is down 40 per cent from the mid 1990s.
