Coronavirus Australia: Analysis reveals surge in interest among golfers since shutdown

The surge in demand for golf, other than in Victoria, has the sport well-positioned to prosper into the future.

Social players take to the fairways in Sydney complying with coronavirus restrictions. Picture: Getty Images.

Golf has boomed across Australia since much of the nation emerged from the initial coronavirus lockdown before winter, with the sport viewed as an attractive exercise option during the pandemic.

An analysis comparing the number of competition rounds played across the country during the COVID-19 riddled year to 2019 shows a drop of just one per cent to date in 2020.

But if the locked-down Victoria is removed from the equation, there has been a dramatic surge of interest in recent months that has more than covered the impact of the initial closure in other states.

Despite the initial shutdown across the country, the number of competitive rounds played across Australia has jumped by four per cent this year, with a substantial increase through winter.

The natural advantages of the sport, which allow competitors to exercise outdoors while abiding by social-distancing guidelines, sparked an increase in interest from golfers aged between 20 and 75.

In a report to be released on Tuesday titled Australian Golf Rounds — Trends and Impacts of COVID-19, it was determined competitive rounds played by people aged between 20 and 49 had surged 44 per cent since April.

Despite the crippling impact of the pandemic, Golf Australia’s development manager David Gallichio said clubs in several states had been able to stabilise after the initial closure.

“Obviously 2020 has been full of extraordinary challenges that we wish nobody had to confront,” he said.

“But given the problems we’ve all faced, it’s very pleasing for so many clubs around Australia to see some positive news.”

The trend in Australia in 2020 mirrors that occurring overseas. Reported rounds in the UK have increased 40 per cent, year-on-year, over the past three months.

When COVID-19 first hit the US, there was a dip of 16 per cent through to April due to course closures.

But the numbers of golfers playing competition rounds has surged, despite the soaring rates of infection across America, with an increase of four per cent in rounds played compared to 2019.

Victoria has clearly been significantly affected given the widespread lockdown reintroduced in July in a bid to curb a second wave of coronavirus.

It is estimated there has been a loss of 285,000 competition rounds to date in the state this year, which equates to approximately $2 million in fees.

“While there are some positives across the country, our clubs (and) facilities in Victoria will need significant assistance moving forward to ensure that the good results we have seen elsewhere can be replicated and built upon in Victoria,” Gallichio said.

The survey, by Golf Business Advisory Services, portrays an optimistic trend given the peak in interest of younger people.

The challenge for golf in Australia is to ensure those who have returned or picked up the sport in recent months remain regular participants in coming years.

“It gives us data and an opportunity as an industry to reset our focus towards ensuring we capitalise when things ‘normalise’,” Gallichio said.

“It’s no secret that clubs around Australia have sought younger members for years now, so if we can convert this surge in interest into meaningful long-term numbers for our clubs and facilities, then that’s a blessing, albeit in a heavy disguise.”