According to the latest study published by the sports research company Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS), an increase in the number of golf rounds played in 2014 has been recorded compared to the two previous years.
Not all is bad news for the golf industry, which has suffered a notable decline in the number of licenses in Spain. However, the United Kingdom has experienced an increase in the golf rounds played on its courses in the two years prior to 2014.
With above-average temperatures in the fourth quarter of 2014, and without major sporting events, the number of rounds played increased by 4.5% compared to the same period in 2013, resulting in a year-on-year growth of 3.5%.
Evolution of golf rounds in the United Kingdom
According to SMS (Sports Marketing Surveys), the fourth quarter of 2014 began with all British regions in positive numbers, except Scotland, which experienced a drop in statistics. However, in November, Scotland achieved a notable increase in general figures, aligning with the rest of the regions in England and Wales.
At the close of the third quarter of 2014, golf in the UK showed positive growth compared to 2013 figures. This growth continued into the fourth quarter, with an increase of 3.5% compared to 2013 and 1.4% compared to 2012.
Richard Payne, senior sports account manager at SMS INC., commented:
“After announcing the positive results of the third quarter (5.3% higher than in the same period of 2013), we knew that, barring a negative impact from the weather in the fourth quarter, we would be able to share very positive news for the golf industry in the UK. We hope this trend will strongly boost golf in the 2015 season.”
Why is this progression of rounds in the UK so positive?
There are several reasons that explain the positive impact of this growth:
- The United Kingdom remains one of the main outbound countries for golfers globally.
- Spain continues to be a preferred destination for golf tourism in Europe.
- The exchange rate of the pound sterling against the euro favors the purchase of golf trips by the British market.
- The golf business in Spain is linked to the tourism industry, with key destinations such as the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Costa Dorada, Balearic and Canary Islands.
- The British communities residing in Spain contribute to consumption at sports facilities.
Reflection on the golf market in Spain
Despite this growth in the UK, the number of golf licenses in Spain has experienced a significant drop between 2014 and 2015. If we analyze the number of licenses by communities, nationalities, and actual residence of the federated members, we can draw some conclusions:
- There are not enough local fans to sustain the golf offering along the entire coast.
- We continue to depend on the international market to maintain demand.
- Spain is a key tourist destination, so the economic results of the sector will depend on the macroeconomic situation of the outbound countries, such as the UK.
Positive figures should not be celebrated without a deep analysis. However, it is important to pay attention to global trends in an increasingly interconnected industry.
Conclusion
My advice: “Keep working”.
