Midweek afternoon golf is booming
By Alistair Dunsmuir
A new survey has found the surge in participation in the last few years has been disproportionally spread out across the times people play, as midweek afternoon golf has seen the biggest rise.
According to data analyst The Revenue Club, in 2019, the number of rounds of golf at UK clubs was almost identical before and after midday. In 2023, however, and following a huge boost in participation, 60 percent of golf rounds have been played in the afternoons or evenings.
The split between weekday and weekend rounds has also changed, although not as dramatically. In 2019, 56 percent of golf rounds were played Monday to Friday, in 2023 that had risen to 59 percent.
Rob Corcoran, director at The Revenue Club, said: “A higher proportion of golf is being played in the afternoons as flexible workers are clocking off early and heading to the course.”
He added: “There has also been a big shift in the demographic of people playing golf. From older players before the pandemic to a growing number of younger people. We saw this big growth in the 25 to 34, and 35 to 45 age brackets.”
His comments come as golf coach Peter Cowen has said he also believes the game has gotten younger. “I have been a professional over 55 years and it seems to be a young man’s game these days,” he wrote.
By Alistair Dunsmuir
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Reason for my money is people working from home.Better control of their working hours and no travelling time.
It’s the new working week post-Covid. Half day working until Thursday, and then the weekend starts on Thursday night. The new anti-work philosophy shared by millions, ever since the furlough scene paid people for doing nothing. It’s a hard habit to break!
They are probably playing in the afternoon because green fees are slightly lower. Since the pandemic green fees have increased to an precedently high. This is down to greedy owners of golf courses who took advantage of the massive increase in popularity for golf. Then the green fees increased even more with the rise in inflation being a great excuse which meant proprietors had an even better excuse to increase them further.
In 8 years since our owner took over our golf course the green fee was about £20 at weekends and is now £36 if you dont book online ,£34 if you do .
Great to see, If these two are in sales then I hope they have smashed their target otherwise they should not be entertaining “mid afternoon golf” love the concept and the increase in playing though, good for the sole, mind and physical fitness. Thanks for sharing
If it was up to me, I would play every day.
I wonder if the emergence of flexible membership is supporting this surge. More choice in how golfers pay and play their golf can only be good for the game, right?
More like golfing instead of working, more productive in the office I think..
GET BACK TO WORK