Coronavirus boom continues as rounds played surge

Rounds played in Great Britain surged by 70 per cent in June year-on-year as golf’s post-lockdown popularity shows no sign of abating.

The early figures, revealed as part of Sports Marketing Surveys’ Rounds Played Monitor, build on statistics from May that showed huge numbers returning to the course as coronavirus restrictions were eased across the home nations.

There had been much discussion across the industry about whether that level of demand could be sustained.

But SMS say initial indications are that “the post-lockdown boom in rounds is, if anything, gathering speed rather than slowing down”.

The firm believe the growth has been helped by the extension from twoballs only to allow three and fourballs.

The June figures were based on a strong sample of 125 courses who supplied data. The full panel includes around 250 courses that report monthly details.

SMS said that full results for May and June, along with cumulative totals for the first half of the year, would be published as part of a second quarter report in early August.

More than 500 English clubs, meanwhile, have started the application process to gain grants from the R&A’s Covid-19 Support Fund.

In a letter to golfers and clubs, England Golf chief executive Jeremy Tomlinson that “for forward-thinking clubs eyeing up brighter times, accessing up to £10,000 in grants can be a gamechanger and we welcome all applications with a true need and requirement”.

The application process runs until July 31.

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Steve Carroll

A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.

Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.

What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.