Study reveals that UK golfers spent over £4.3 billion on their sport in 2014

According to a recent study by Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC), golfers in the United Kingdom spent a huge £4.3 billion on golf in 2014, accounting for an even more impressive 14% of all consumers spending on sport.

The report also revealed a number of other impressive golfing figures and statistics, which all seem to highlight just how popular the sport remains in the UK. It is also a sign that golf continues to attract new passionate fans and players each year.

Funded by the R&A, the report revealed that more than half of the total consumer spending was spent on nearly 3000 golf clubs during the year, with golfing equipment and clothing accounting for a further £939 million of the total sum. Spectators of the sport also helped increase the country's pot significantly, equating to £775m spent on events, accommodation and golf-related tourism throughout the year.

This all goes to support the prosperity of the golfing industry in the UK, which employs over 70,000 people. Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of the R&A, summarised the significance of the report: “Golf is the first sport in the UK to evaluate its contribution to economic development in line with the government's Sporting Future’ strategy and these findings give us an important economic baseline for the golf industry against which we can measure future growth.”

This is an incredibly encouraging sign, especially as golf moves ever closer to its triumphant return to the Olympic Games in Rio. Slumbers reinforced this attitude in his statement, saying: “There is plenty of room for optimism that golf can maintain and develop its position as one of the most popular sports in the UK”. Hopefully the increasing popularity and prosperity of the sport means many more exciting opportunities in the future of golf for fans and players around the country.