While golf is undoubtedly spreading around the globe, the worldwide supply remains highly concentrated among the top 20 golfing nations. As of year-end 2014, 34,011 golf facilities have been identified in 206 countries. The vast majority (79%) of that supply is located in the top 10 golfing countries, including Australia, Canada, England, Japan and the United States. Even as golf development gains momentum in previously underdeveloped regions such as Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, the bulk of the supply remains largely centralised. In fact, there are far more countries that have only one golf course compared to nations that have more than 100, and even fewer are home to 500 or more.
The majority of worldwide supply is located in the western hemisphere, though not by much. North and South America are home to 55% of the world supply (the US accounts for 45%
of the world’s facilities). Europe has the second largest supply with 22% of the world total, followed by Asia with 14% and Oceania with 6%.
Though worldwide golf supply contains a large proportion of private clubs, golf resorts and golf-centric real estate developments, the sport remains largely accessible. Of the 34,011 facilities, 71% are open to the public. At the moment, golf’s supply is clearly strongest in the most developed nations, but the sport is growing around the world.
Worldwide, there are 696 (measured in 18-hole equivalents) new golf courses under construction or in advance planning, which, if all were realised (and no existing courses closed), the
total world supply would increase by around 2%. While 80% of these projects are located in Asia, Europe and North America, the sport is reaching parts of the world where golf has not been
present before.
Asia covers 31% of the total land on earth, and is home to around 14% of the world’s golf supply. Fifty three of the 55 countries in this region have golf facilities, yet eight countries account for 90% of the region’s supply. With 2,383 facilities, Japan alone accounts for 50% of the region’s total
golf facility supply. Russia, despite having the largest land mass in the region, has only 20 facilities.
China, one of the fastest growing golf countries in the world, has 473 facilities, but obtaining information on the growth of the sport in the country is a challenge. The government
imposed a ban on golf course construction in 2004 in an effort to protect the country’s land and water resources. The ban, still in effect, applies to all areas of China except Hainan Island, a major tourist area. Developers and local officials have, in some cases, circumvented the restrictions by filing
Golf facilities in Asia 10 applications that designate the projects as sports training facilities, resorts, or other types of developments. The national government is now taking a more active enforcement
stance and demolishing courses that were illegally built. Golf is a popular sport in South Korea, though the supply of affordable public courses is insufficient to meet demand. Private golf facilities, which make up the majority of supply, have been under financial pressure due to high taxation on
memberships and green fees. Also, they are required to refund membership fees upon members’ requests, usually after the facility has been open for five years. Perhaps as a result of the lack of public golf that is accessible to the masses, golfers have taken refuge in other types of golf facilities such as ranges and indoor simulator (screen golf) facilities, which have proliferated.
