Publication of a new study on the economic impact
OTTAWA, May 23, 2024 – After a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19, members of the National Alliance of Golf Associations (NAGA) are on Parliament Hill for National Golf Day and discussing with parliamentarians the many benefits of golf for Canadians.
Golf industry representatives also released the results of a new Canadian golf economic impact study that highlights golf’s financial contributions and its incredible popularity as the premier sport played in Canada.
This day celebrates golf for its benefits on physical and mental health, its safe sport attributes, its social and economic merits, its role in preserving the environment, its inclusive nature, its contribution to obtaining life skills. life among young people, and its vital importance to the business community. National data indicates that hundreds of thousands of Canadians have taken up the sport since the pandemic, bringing the total to six million Canadian golfers, solidifying golf’s status as the country’s premier participation sport.
“Canadians played 74 million rounds of golf in 2023, a whopping 24% increase from the last study in 2019,” said Jeff Calderwood, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada and president of ANAG.
“Current golfers played more often and new golfers began playing at impressive levels. The general appeal of golf as a safe, healthy, outdoor recreation that can be enjoyed by all ages, genders, abilities and budgets across Canada is generating continued growth in the game. The resulting economic benefits reflect this popularity”.
Every five years, ANAG carries out an economic impact study to measure financial contributions such as employment, charitable support, tourism and gross domestic product. The sport and business of golf has continued to grow since the pandemic and continues to be an important economic driver for Canadians and their communities across Canada. Here are some of the highlights of the study:
- Golf contributes massively to Canada’s GDP, to the tune of $23.2 billionan increase of $4 billion compared to the previous study.
- Golf generates 237,000 person-years of employment, illustrating its importance as a vital Source of livelihood for countless Canadians. Nearly 135,000 Canadians work directly in the golf sector, of which 45,000 are students.
- Golf-related activities generated more of 14.2 billion of dollars in labor income, ensuring the subsistence of families and generating significant economic benefits.
- $382 million were raised through golf activities to benefit charities across Canada, representing a return to pre-Depression levels and the highest among all participatory sports.
- Approximately 6 million Canadians played golf in 2023, an all-time record for the nation’s premier participation sport, generating 74 million games played.
- Golfers’ spending totaled 14.2 billion dollars in 2023.
- The operation of golf courses contributed up to $8.1 billion to Canada’s GDP.
- Capital expenditure by golf course operators amounted to 907 million of dollars in 2023.
- Taxes paid to governments by the Canadian golf industry amounted to 4.7 billion dollars in 2023.
“Golf is a sport that brings many benefits to Canadians, and not just economically. It is also a holistic solution to many of life’s necessities and can be practiced throughout life. said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada. “Golf is a healthy and safe activity that promotes better environmental stewardship, provides exceptional social value and is great for business. We are also observing significant growth in the level of commitment to this sport and in the diversity among new players.
Additionally, the recent success of our Canadian LPGA Tour and PGA Pros has further increased enthusiasm for the sport, with stars on the world stage like Brooke Henderson and Nick Taylor,” added Mr. Applebaum.
Other characteristics of Canadian golf are:
- 18 holes of golf allow you to burn up 2,000 calorieswhich corresponds to a very healthy 15 km walk and active exercise in nature.
- 95% of Canadian golfers believe that golf is very good for their mental health, which has also been clinically proven.
- 83% of Canadian golfers say the social aspects of golf are important to them and improve their lives.
- Spectator interest in professional golf has never been greater. The RBC Canadian Open and the CPKC Women’s Open set records for attendance and commercial success.
- Golf is a safe and trustworthy sport for both recreational and competitive play.
- Canadian golf is experiencing great diversity, including an increase in 6% in the number of active female golfers and growth in 33% of the number of BIPOC golfers in 2023.
- THE off-course golfincluding simulator play and virtual golf experiences, supported participation growth.
- Sustainable golf has become one of the leading environmental stewardship movements in Canadian golf, with golf courses across the country adopting sustainability commitments and best practices.
Golf thrived during the pandemic because the nature of the sport made it easy to social distance while still providing a social recreational experience that couldn’t be found elsewhere.
With golf now better recognized as an important part of the solution, with all its health, social and economic benefits, the spotlight on golf and its impact on Canadian communities has since supported much of this increased demand.
In summary, the study clearly shows that golf is good and essential for Canada and Canadians.
