SURVEY REVEALS INCREASE IN ROUNDS PLAYED

A survey has revealed that despite the negative signals about golf participation in the UK, the number of rounds played at the back end of 2014 actually rose compared to the two previous years.

Leading sports research company Sports Marketing Surveys ‘Golf Rounds Played’ study revealed that the number of rounds played in the final three months of 2014 were up 4.5% against the same period in 2013, representing a year-on-year growth of 3.5%.

With temperatures above average for latter part of the year, England, Scotland and Wales all saw a small upsurge in rounds played.

Richard Payne, senior manager of sports accounts at SMS, commented: “After announcing the positive numbers, we knew that unless the weather turned dramatically badly towards the end of the year, that we would be able to publicise some positive news to the UK golf industry. Hopefully this intelligence gives golf a boost going into the 2015 season.”