China's Golf Population Reaches 5.4 Million, with Guangdong Leading in Popularity - CGA Releases First Industry Data
On October 14, the China Golf Association released core data from the China Golf Industry Report at the China Ladies Open. This report marks the first systematic survey and professional compilation of industry data in the 40-year history of golf in China. Compiled by Professor Zhou Lijun's team at Zhejiang University, it represents the CGA's first official industry data release, showcasing the current fundamentals of China's golf industry.
1. Golf Population
In 2024, China's total golf population was approximately 5.4 million, including:
- Approximately 4.06 million on-course participants, with about 720,000 core golfers, male-to-female ratio 4:1
- 1.33 million indoor golf facility participants, male-to-female ratio 7:3
From 2018 to 2024, a total of 141,290 junior golfers were registered nationwide, including:
- 15,548 new registrations in 2024, up 12% from 2023
As of the end of September 2025, the national junior golf ranking list had 2,778 active players, with 2,239 junior players holding competition handicaps.
Beijing Junior Golf Growth Series held on October 2, 2025
2. Golf Courses
As of June 5, 2025, the number of operating golf courses nationwide was 335, of which:
- 84% were public or semi-public courses open to all.
The top five provinces/municipalities in course count were: Guangdong, Beijing, Jiangsu, Hainan, and Shandong.
3. Golf Rounds Played
In 2023, total rounds played at outdoor courses and indoor facilities reached 20.36 million, including:
- Outdoor rounds: 13.26 million, up 21% from 2021, averaging 39,700 rounds per course.
- Indoor facility rounds: 7.10 million.
The top five provinces/municipalities in total rounds played were: Guangdong, Hainan, Beijing, Zhejiang, and Shanghai.
- In 2023, Guangdong Province averaged 44,800 rounds, meaning an average of 123 enthusiasts played a round per day per course.
4. Golf Economic Data
In 2023, the average cost per round at outdoor courses was 531 yuan. Assuming a round takes 4.5 hours, the hourly cost was approximately 118 yuan.
- In first-tier cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen), the average cost per round was about 753 yuan.
- In central, western, and northeastern regions, the average cost per round was about 512 yuan.
In 2023, the economic scale of China's golf industry—including course and facility revenue, tournaments, and training—exceeded 15.186 billion yuan. Equipment manufacturing was not included. Each golf course provided an average of 198 direct jobs.
Above: Wei Qingfeng, Secretary-General of the China Golf Association
5. Challenges and Opportunities for China's Golf Industry
At the press conference, Wei Qingfeng, Secretary-General of the China Golf Association, interpreted the data. He acknowledged the current shortage of facilities but emphasized that the industry is striving to develop, gradually returning to the essence of sports, transitioning from serving a niche to serving the masses. He proposed several action plans:
- Encourage golf facilities to further open to the public to better meet diverse leisure and fitness needs.
- Gradually improve the new national system, enhancing competitive golf strength and professional development.
- Enrich golf tournament activities, collaborate with diverse entities to create localized event IPs, and build a complete event system.
- Leverage golf courses' unique advantages in barren mountain management and mining area restoration to achieve win-win environmental governance and fiscal relief.
- Seize technological innovation opportunities to develop indoor simulator-based facilities, diversifying golf participation scenarios.
- Identify and refine the cultural value spectrum of Chinese golf, accelerate the sinicization of golf, and empower industrial development with cultural momentum.
| Source: CLPG TOUR WeChat Official Account
| Image Credits: CLPG TOUR, CGA Junior Service Account, Hwamei Luhu Golf Club, China Golf Association WeChat Official Account