How Many Golf Courses Are There In The World?

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How Many Golf Courses Are There In The World?

The R&A’s Golf Around the World 2019 study revealed that 78% of the world’s supply of golf courses are located in just 10 countries: the United States, Japan, Canada, England, Australia, Germany, France, Republic of Korea, Sweden and Scotland.

Here we take a look at the rough total number of courses in the world and how many each country has…

Number of golf courses in the world – 38,864

USA – 16,752
Japan – 3,169
Canada – 2,633
England – 2,270
Australia – 1,616
Germany – 1,050
France – 804
South Korea – 798
Sweden – 662
Scotland – 614
China – 599
Spain – 497
Ireland – 494
South Africa – 489
New Zealand – 418
Argentina – 349
Denmark – 346
Netherlands – 330
Italy – 321
Thailand – 315

The fascinating data shows that North America has 51% of the world’s golf courses, with the USA boasting 43%.

How many golf courses are there in Europe?

8,940 (23% OF WORLD’S TOTAL)

Europe has the second-largest regional share with 23% of the world’s total after North America.

England is far and away the number one golfing country in Europe; home to 2,270 golf courses, more than every country in the world barring USA, Japan and Canada.

England has a total of 31,620 golf holes, and the study also revealed that 25% of courses in GB and Ireland are 9 holers. The best golf courses in England include Open Championship venues such as Royal Birkdale, Royal St George’s, Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Europe has a total of 8,940 courses with 151 currently under development at the time of the R&A’s 2019 publication. That’s just over half the amount in the USA, which is home to a whopping 16,752 and 43% of the world’s supply.

In second place in Europe is Germany, with a total of 1,050 golf courses. France are 3rd with 804, Sweden 4th with 662 and Scotland in 5th with 614 golf courses. Spain takes 6th place in the list with 497 golf courses, while Ireland holds slightly less with 494 to sit 7th.

Rounding off the top 10 are Denmark (346), the Netherlands (330) and Italy, with 321 golf courses.

England – 2,270
Germany – 1,050
France – 804
Sweden – 662
Scotland – 614
Spain – 497
Ireland – 494
Denmark – 346
Netherlands – 330
Italy – 321
Austria – 205
Finland – 191
Norway – 191
Wales – 186
Czech Republic – 132
Belgium – 121
Switzerland – 114
Portugal – 106
Iceland – 75

In the bottom five comes Bosnia and Herzegovina (2), Serbia (2), Belarus (2), the Faroe Islands (1) and finally, Malta with just one golf course.

Across the continent, you will find no less than 8,940 golf courses, amounting to 125,268 golf holes.