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Where is golf most popular in Europe?

Author

Mia Kelly

Published Jan 06, 2026

In 2018, England was the leader in number of official golf courses in Europe with 1,888 out of 6,859 golf courses.

Where is golf popular in Europe?

Over in Europe, golf remains popular mostly across Northern Europe, including France, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Still, there are a few outliers like Spain and Italy where people enjoy the sport.

What country is golf the most popular in?

Countries Where Golf Is Most Popular

  • IRELAND. Despite the fact that golf was invented in Scotland, their next door neighbor, Ireland, is the most popular country for the sport. ...
  • CANADA. ...
  • UNITED KINGDOM. ...
  • UNITED STATES. ...
  • SOUTH AFRICA. ...
  • JAPAN.

What countries are golf popular in?

That's an 84% diffusion rate of the sport globally. Still, the sport is geographically concentrated, with 78% of world supply of courses located in the top ten golfing countries: the United States, Japan, Canada, England, Australia, Germany, France, Republic of Korea, Sweden and Scotland.

How popular is golf in Europe?

New Report Shows Golf Participation In Europe Has Risen To Over 10 Million. A new research report has shown that golf participation is on the rise in Europe with over 10 million golfers now enjoying the sport.

36 related questions found

Is golf popular in Spain?

Spain's geographic diversity and excellent weather makes it ideal for golfing and one of the most popular holiday golfing destinations in the world.

Is golf popular in France?

Golf's popularity growing in France

The French Golf Federation is the 7th biggest sports federation in France. Just behind rugby and, defying all expectations, just ahead of pétanque! It's really popular, then. And it's showing no signs of stopping...

How popular is golf in Italy?

About one in 700 Italians is a golfer, whereas in France and Germany the ratio is one in 165 and in England one in 64. In Sweden, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland the number is one in 16.

Is golf popular in Germany?

Germany is one of the largest golfing nations in Europe with over 700 golf clubs and over 600.000 golfers. Out of all the golfers roughly 57% are males, 35% female and 8% junior players.

Where is the golf capital of the world?

Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the Grand Strand has a golf course for every level! Thanks to it being the area with the most golf courses, per-capita, Myrtle Beach has been named the Golf Capital of the World!

Is golf popular in Sweden?

Around six percent of all Swedes play golf, the highest percentage in Europe.

Is golf big in France?

Golf's popularity growing in France

The French Golf Federation is the 7th biggest sports federation in France. Just behind rugby and, defying all expectations, just ahead of pétanque! It's really popular, then. And it's showing no signs of stopping...

Is golf popular in Denmark?

This might sound strange to some people, but golf has become immensely popular in Denmark in recent years. There are more than 180 golf courses across the country that warmly welcome both professional and recreational players.

Is golf popular in Ireland?

Golf is still very popular in Ireland, most would even combine it with other sports. The best thing about golfing in Ireland is you can avoid the crowds, depending on the time of year, and get to play on some of the best courses in the world surrounded by stunning scenery.

How popular is golf in the UK?

Golf is one of the more popular sports across the United Kingdom (UK). In all of Europe, England has the highest number of registered golf courses as of 2017 by far, with a total of 1,872, followed by Germany with 731, not even half that number. Scotland hosts 560 courses, Ireland has 405 and Wales has 145 courses.

What country is golf from?

Golf originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland, in an area close to the royal capital of Edinburgh. In those early days players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes and around tracks using a bent stick or club.

Are there any French pro golfers?

Victor Dubuisson (born 22 April 1990) is a French professional golfer who plays on the European Tour.

Is golf in France expensive?

Often seen as exclusive, golf can in fact be affordable in France – and one of its pluses is that you can, with a little luck, go on playing it all through life. For an English-speaker, its vocabulary is also very familiar, from les green fees to le tee, le driver or le bunker.

Are there any French golfers?

Michael Lorenzo-Vera, 33, who is among 19 countrymen playing in this week's Open de France at Le Golf National outside Paris, talked about the course, making the Ryder Cup, and the challenges of golf in France.

Is golf big in Spain?

With more than 50 million visitors each year, it is no surprise to hear that Spain is still one of Europe's premier golfing destinations and also one of the first European countries to successfully market the “package golf holiday” making life so very pleasant and easy for foreign visitors.

Where is best for golf in Spain?

We have handpicked our top nine from a pick of the best golf courses in Spain.

  • Finca Cortesin Golf Club. ...
  • Campo de Golf El Saler. ...
  • Las Colinas Golf Course. ...
  • La Reserva Golf Club, Sotogrande. ...
  • Real Club de Golf El Prat. ...
  • PGA Catalunya, Stadium Course. ...
  • Real Club Sevilla Golf. ...
  • Golf Son Gual Mallorca.

How many golf courses are there in Portugal?

Portugal is one of Europe's most popular golfing destinations. The country's warm, sunny Algarve region alone counts for more than 40 golf courses, many of them world-famous championship layouts.