April saw the highest level of golfing participation in the UK since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new figures.
Figures from the World Handicap System have shown that more scorecards were handed in this April, than any other comparative month since the end of lockdown in 2021.
England Golf have stated that this is a 95 per cent increase form the same time last year, with Rory McIlroy’s completion of the career Grand Slam thought to be a catalyst for the vast change.
Jim Lamming is the Club Secretary of Lincoln’s Carholme Golf Club and has noticed a steady build up of participation over the last few years: “We’ve found that since Covid, participation has increased throughout Lincolnshire.
“Some counties have dropped off but we’ve maintained.”
Jim, who’s favourite golfer is McIlroy, has been a member of the club since 1972 and has seen the perceptions of golf change, over time. he believes that in order to continue this momentum, Lincolnshire’s golf clubs need to: “Develop young golfers and focus on building their junior programmes.”
Woodhall Spa Golf Clubs Operations Manager, Lisa Brown spoke of the positive effect the tournament has had on golf in the county: “People have watched it on television and thought, right I’m going to get out there and play myself.”
Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire is the home of England Golf, with Masters runner up – Justin Rose, starting his early career there.
Despite Augusta national being 4,000 miles from the countryside of Lincolnshire, it all started here for Rose, as it has for so many golfers.
The club’s Hotchkin course is one of the best in the country and ranked in the top 100 of all course in the world.
Woodhall Spa Golf Club Operations Manager, Lisa Brown, emphasised the clubs pride in producing such a talent: “Justin Rose came through Woodhall Spa, that for us is amazing.”
Woodhall Spa is also the home of England Golf, as well as boasting the 58th ranked golf course in the world: “To have a world ranking golf course in Lincolnshire is fantastic.”
“We have golfers come from all over the country and the world.”
Despite the past month seeing increased engagement and participation in the sport, Lisa still cited that “some golf courses are struggling” and that strides still need to be made to ensure the sports sustainability: “It’s all about people feeling that you’re friendly.
“We want to include golfers from all backgrounds and environments.”
The sentiment that golf in Lincolnshire is in a healthy place, was echoed by Oliver Brine, who is a high level amateur golfer at Market Rasen Golf Club: “Golf is in a very good place, I tried to join my local golf club and they’d ran out of spaces for new members.”
Brine disagreed that the sports surge in popularity is solely down to a period of good weather, instead citing that the sport has been on a steady rise for a while: “I started playing golf in 2021 and the sports got more and more popular, the courses are getting busier and the driving range is busier.”
“The weather definitely helps, but the sport has been getting more popular over the last three years in general.”
Brine is a +1 handicapper and he still feels as though the courses across the county are well suited to challenging a high-level player, pointing out Woodhall Spa’s course as one of the best courses in the country. The variety of course across the county was also something he noted.
Despite lauding the counties golfing scene, Brine remains aware that the financial costs of the sport remains one of it’s biggest obstacles: “It’s a very expensive sport.”
“Back in the 2000’s you could buy a full set for £700, whereas now, a good driver alone is over £500.”
Despite the financial hurdles faced by the sport, Lincolnshire seems to be excelling at producing good courses and a strong standard of player.
