Golf booming as club membership costs fall below €650, says Golf Ireland
After a slump exacerbated by covid, golf is enjoying a renaissance in Ireland, buoyed by the international success of players such as Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and Leona Maguire.
This week, the Open Championship — one of the sport's four majors — comes to Royal Portrush in Co Antrim, attracting 278,000 visitors and worth an estimated £200m (€230m).
Ireland now has more than 223,000 members in 377 clubs nationwide. Golf club membership fees and subscriptions are worth €143m, which accounts for 20% of the total consumer spending on the sport.
Golf Ireland chief executive Mark Kennelly says that the increased membership has coincided with the game being within reach economically. 'The whole thrust of our strategic plan is around making golf more accessible and inclusive,' said Mr Kennelly. 'We have a big focus on encouraging more people from non-traditional backgrounds. We have a big focus on encouraging more women and girls.
'In some of the bigger urban areas, golf is more expensive just because demand is outstripping supply. But in your average golf club, membership is around €600 or so.
'We would see that as comparable to a leisure centre or gym membership — there's not a huge gap there.'
Golf Ireland Chair Paul Haran, R&A Director of Public Affairs Robert Oxley, Golf Ireland chief Mark Kennelly, Prof Simon Shibli of Sheffield Hallam University, and Golf Ireland COO Tracy Bunyan at the launch of Golf Ireland's report on the impact of golf, which was published in June. Picture: Inpho/Tom Maher
Memberships are up 20% in the past five years. 'We've nearly 380 clubs who are quite dependent on strong numbers because members pay an annual fee and contribute to the running of their clubs, so that bedrock of growing membership is very important for the future vibrancy of our club network,' added Mr Kennelly.
Casual golf — played by people who are not yet members of clubs — now stands at about 350,000 people who play full-length golf at least once in the year.
Professor Simon Shibli, director of the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, conducted research for Golf Ireland which showed the game contributed €717m in direct economic value to the Irish economy. The game generates €277.6m annually in taxes alone from consumption, income, and corporate profits, said Prof Shibli.
The Open in Port-rush will see a huge influx of visitors to the island. 'There isn't the capacity in Northern Ireland to absorb all of the economic shock that comes with the Open so some of that will bleed into the Republic of Ireland. There will be spillover effect,' added Prof Shibli.
Leona Maguire competing at the KPMG Women's Irish Open Golf Championship at Carton House earlier this month. International success by Irish players is adding to the game's reach. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
The 2025 Women's Irish Open took place earlier this month at Carton House in Kildare and attracted a record 37,000 spectators, while the men's Irish Open will be held in the K Club in Kildare in September.
AIB business banking head of hospitality and tourism Jonathan Clarke said golf now links in with the wider visitor ecosystem.
'It's not just the golf which attracts tourists to Ireland,' added Mr Clarke. 'The warm hospitality, history, and scenic beauty in conjunction with highly personalised services in hotels, guesthouses, and golf clubs create memorable stays.
'Ireland's compact size allows golfers to combine multiple courses and sightseeing all within relatively short travel times.
'This area of the economy has remained resilient. While prices have increased, high-net-worth tourists who are less sensitive to price changes continue to favour Ireland's golf offering.'
In 2027, the Ryder Cup will come to Adare Manor in Co Limerick, and the Government has committed €50m towards the biennial competition.
Separately, the Government has signalled it would support Portmarnock in Co Dublin hosting the Open Championship, with State funding in the region of €40m, which if successful would be the first time the event is staged outside Britain or Northern Ireland.
Robert Oxley, director of public affairs with the R&A, the governing body which oversees the Open Championship, says there's a cumulative effect of having a series of events in Ireland. 'We haven't reached a point where we are cannabilising each market for those events. The more opportunities to advertise Ireland to international audiences, the more people are going to come over and spend.'
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