England Golf have introduced that 2025 was one other landmark 12 months for the sport throughout the nation, with iGolf and iPlay reaching new heights and extra scores than ever earlier than being submitted by way of the World Handicap System.
outstanding 11.83 million scores have been submitted by way of WHS™ in 2025 – a 16% enhance on 2024 and the best complete for the reason that system’s introduction.
9-hole golf noticed notably robust progress, with submissions rising 28%, and 18-hole scores elevated by 14%. In the meantime, basic play continued its upward trajectory, accounting for 52% of all scores and rising 26% year-on-year.
Following the introduction of four-ball better-ball (4BBB) scores for handicapping functions in 2024, England noticed a 68% enhance in acceptable 4BBB scores being submitted in 2025, which reveals the schooling and help supplied is having an actual influence on the variety of acceptable scores being recorded.
England Golf’s sustained deal with rising the ladies and women’ recreation has delivered vital outcomes.
WOMEN’S GOLF
Feminine golfers submitted greater than 151,000 extra scores in 2025, representing a 14% enhance. Financial institution Vacation Monday 5 Could was the most well-liked day of the 12 months for feminine participation, with 13,200 scores entered.
In the meantime, Saturday 3 Could turned the busiest day total for golf in England, with 98,361 scores submitted – together with 93,591 from male golfers.
Richard Flint, Chief Working Officer at England Golf, mentioned the figures replicate a sport in wonderful well being.
“Golf actually is prospering in England, and the stats are there to again it up,” mentioned Flint. “Our dedication to inclusivity and accessibility by way of the Respect in Golf motion is making an actual distinction. All affiliated golf equipment and counties have embraced and applied fashionable ED&I insurance policies, guaranteeing the sport is welcoming to all.
“The rise in WHS™ scores additionally reveals the simplicity and recognition of the MyEG app, which loved a document 12 months with greater than 500,000 downloads. Training round rating entry has clearly improved, and shorter rated tee units for women and men are serving to extra individuals play collectively on programs that go well with their capability.”
THE RORY EFFECT
Flint additionally highlighted the rising attraction of shorter codecs. “The expansion in nine-hole scores – notably amongst ladies, up 24% – reveals that golf doesn’t all the time must imply 18 holes. If 9 holes assist individuals benefit from the bodily, psychological, and social advantages of the sport, that’s unbelievable.
“Different components for the expansion would definitely embrace the truth that we had a dry, scorching summer season, so subsequently extra individuals need to get out on the course, and there’s little question the feel-good issue from Rory McIlroy’s grand slam win at The Masters, or Europe’s away win at The Ryder Cup, had an influence on inspiring extra individuals to choose up a membership.
“All of those components have performed a job in driving our core purpose of inspiring extra golfers, and we hope extra will proceed to catch the bug in 2026.”
