A significant growth opportunity exists for golf if it can attract more women, girls and families into playing the sport more often, a new research report published by The R&A reveals.
Many countries, including Australia, have experienced a fall in the number of people playing golf and the research report analyses the factors which affect whole family participation in the sport, including women and girls.
It also details several practical recommendations for national golf bodies and golf clubs to help them encourage more women and girls to play.
The R&A commissioned the International Institute for Golf Education to carry out the research which brings together the findings of existing academic and industry research with the individual views of a wide-ranging group of golf experts.
Golf Australia golf development director Cameron Wade said the research was timely because it coincided with the recent launch of Vision 2025, GA's master plan to have more females involved in golf.
"We are intent on making this not just a hot topic, but addressing these issues on an ongoing basis," Wade said.
"The research results reinforce our commitment to address this area and transform the sport's future.
"One of our key focuses is getting family more involved and hope that the number of women playing will increase as a result."
The key themes identified in the report, produced by Dr John Fry and Philip Hall, include:
• The importance of establishing the optimum environment for family participation by being aware of the make-up of the modern family
• A direct link between equality in sports participation and wider measures of gender equality such as women in influential decision-making positions in golf
• That parents are the chief factor underpinning families’ likelihood to play golf and that their motivations for their children taking part include having fun, improving health and developing friendships
• The increasing desire for golf to provide opportunities for socialising and to be adaptable and flexible given the time and cost constraints placed on the modern family
• The need for the sport to evolve to meet the demands of contemporary society and for clubs to encourage memorable events for their customers, as that memory itself or the "experience", is increasingly replacing the "product" of playing golf
The research reflects The R&A’s continued drive to encourage more women, girls and families to play golf more regularly, working with its affiliates around the world to enhance golf’s appeal.
The R&A's chief executive Martin Slumbers said: "The research demonstrates there is a tremendous opportunity for golf to grow its participation numbers and generate more income if it can attract more women, girls and families into playing the sport.
"We know that more work needs to be done to achieve this outcome at a time when there are concerns about declining participation levels and this report provides useful actions and guidance for our affiliates and clubs that can lead to tangible, positive outcomes for golf."