Golf is available around the globe. As of year-end 2018, there were 38,864 golf courses in 209 of the world’s 249 countries. 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.
The majority of worldwide golf courses supply is located in the western hemisphere. North and South America are home to 53% of world supply; the US alone claims 43% of the world’s total. Europe has the second largest regional share with 23% of the world’s total, followed by Asia with 16% and Oceania with 5%. Those numbers show a marginal shift from North America to Asia in recent years.
"There are 209 golfing countries, The top 20 countries account for 89% of global supply"
Golf fact Continent
Africa
- 52% of Africa’s golf supply is located in South Africa
- 48% of all current African golf development is in Nigeria (11 courses), Kenya (9) and Egypt (7)
- Top 5 golfing Countries (Courses) in Africa
– South Africa 489
– Morocco 56
– Nigeria 54
– Kenya 43
– Egypt/Zimbabwe 38
Asia
- Asia, including the Middle East, is home to 60% of the world’s population
- Top 5 golfing Countries (Courses) in Asia
– Japan 3169
– South Korea 798
– China 599
– Thailand 315
– India 294
Europe
- 10% of the world’s population
- 23% of all golf courses in the world
- Top 5 golfing Countries (Courses) in Europe
– England 2270
– Germany 1050
– France 804
– Sweden 662
– Scotland 614
North America, Central America and the Caribbean
- 76% of golf courses in North America are publicly accessible
- North America accounts for 51% of the world’s golf supply
- The US is home to 43% of the world’s golf supply
- Top 5 golfing Countries (Courses) in North America
– Usa 16752
– Canada 2633
– Mexico 253
– Dominican Republic 35
– Puerto Rico 23
Oceania
- 16 Golfing countries with 2109 golf courses
- 1952 publicly accessible courses
- Top 5 golfing Countries (Courses) in Oceania
– Australia 1616
– New Zealand 418
– Fiji 17
– Papua New Guinea 15
– Guam 15
South America
- 49% of the region’s golf courses are in Argentina
- 44% of golf courses in South America are publicly accessible
- Top 5 golfing Countries (Courses) in South America
– Argentina 349
– Brazil 126
– Chile 82
– Colombia 68
– Venezuela 23