A record 2526 people joined Get Into Golf programs nationally in January, up 18 per cent on the previous record month, with 90 per cent of participants women.<\/p>\n
Female registrations in Get Into Golf programs grew 11.6 per cent year-on-year, reaching 17,726 women in 2024-25, delivered across more than 360 venues nationally.<\/p>\n
The surge reflects a broader transformation underway across the sport. New national research shows more than four million adult Australians now play golf, making it the most participated and most frequently played adult sport in the country, more than Australian rules, rugby league and netball combined.<\/p>\n
Participation has grown by 1.3 million players (48 per cent) since 2022, with women a key part of that growth. Women now account for 42 per cent of all golfers nationally, while 60 per cent of new players in the past two years are female.<\/p>\n
Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said the record month demonstrated how women are reshaping the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re seeing more women than ever discovering golf, and they\u2019re engaging with the sport in ways that suit their lifestyles, social and flexible formats, on and off course,\u201d Sutherland said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrograms like Get Into Golf are playing a critical role in turning curiosity into participation, and that momentum is being felt right across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the 2.4 million Australians who say they are highly interested in taking up golf in the next year, 53 per cent are women, representing around 1.3 million potential new female golfers.<\/p>\n
Get Into Golf participants were welcomed at Kooyonga Golf Club this week ahead of the Women\u2019s Australian Open. Hyunji Je, who joined the clinic, said her attraction to try golf was motivated by family and sustained through social connections.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son loves playing golf, so I wanted to learn, too. This program was the perfect opportunity to start from scratch. I\u2019ve already invited friends from the Korean community to join. It\u2019s a great way for international women to connect and build a community while learning something new.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another participant, Li-Ting Lin, said learning alongside other beginners, particularly other women, helped make the experience more welcoming and enjoyable: \u201cIt was my first time playing golf and the session was really fun. Learning the basics together with friends made it much easier to start.\u201d<\/p>\n
Participants also said the program had given them confidence to continue playing beyond the clinic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m getting close to retirement and wanted something active to do, so golf seemed like the perfect fit,\u201d Briony Kennewell said. \u201cIt\u2019s harder than I expected, but that\u2019s part of the challenge \u2013 the more you play, the more addictive it becomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow participant Eliza Anderson said \u201cThe Get Into Golf program was a great way to start. Learning in a group environment takes the pressure off and makes it much easier to get into the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Research confirms social and community impact<\/p>\n