September 30, 2020 (London, ONT) – Today, LondonOntarioSports.com and partner publication LondonOntarioGolf.com announce the results of the 2020 London & Area Golf Survey.

Launched in January 2020, the survey is the first of its kind since the City of London municipal golf system surveyed its members in 1999. The City also conducted two golf studies, in 1991 and 2003.

The 2020 London & Area Golf Survey drew 1,580 responses from its readers throughout the 2020 golf season. There were 54 questions related to playing and spending habits. In London and surrounding counties, local golfers have access to 13 private golf clubs, 112 semi-private and public clubs, 20 stand-alone outdoor golf practice centres, numerous golf ranges housed at local clubs plus a growing number of indoor golf simulators and practice centres.

The golf industry contributes millions of dollars annually to the local economy. And, in addition to supporting pro shops and golf retailers, local golfers continue to purchase equipment, apparel and accessories online at a growing rate – even more today as the COVID-19 pandemic has made online shopping an attractive alternative to shopping at brick and mortar stores.

“However, London and area golf clubs have collectively announced they have experienced unprecedented traffic in tee times, as golf has provided even the most casual golfer with a safe – yet heavily-regulated – outdoor activity during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said LondonOntarioSports.com publisher and editor Jeffrey Reed.

“There are more golf courses, per capita, in London and area than anywhere else in Canada,” said Reed. “London is one of Canada’s golf capitals, given our participation rate, our number of courses, the quality of our links and the notable amateur and professional tournaments we have hosted over the past century.”

Mike Olizarevitch, retired long-time head golf pro at the City’s Fanshawe Golf Club, produced a report for the City in 2003 indicating there were enough golf courses in and around London to support a population of 1,050,000 – more than three times London’s then population of about 330,000. The National Golf Foundation indicates, in order to sustain a viable trade, one golf course should be built for every 25,000 people.

The 2020 London & Area Golf Survey reflects London and area’s growing population and larger supply of golf amenities. In this survey, many questions allowed respondents to choose more than one answer. For example, readers were asked what works best in growing the game amongst all ages. The most popular answer (58 per cent) was, discounted memberships.

The survey has produced some key findings, most notably that 78 per cent of respondents consider themselves avid golfers, as opposed to casual golfers, with half of all respondents playing 40 or more rounds per season. These findings are in line with a 1991 City of London study, conducted by Canadian Golf Marketing, which stated there were 81,000 golfers in London, 29,000 of whom were recreational golfers, and the balance avid golfers. That study reported, in most other municipalities, those numbers were reversed.

Another key finding from the 2020 London & Area Golf Survey is that 78 per cent of respondents overwhelmingly named lack of time as the biggest reason they don’t play more golf. This finding concurs with recent national reports. Lack of money (24 per cent), and lack of playing partners (25 per cent) were named the next biggest detriments to playing more golf.

Here are some additional findings from the 2020 London & Area Golf Survey:

• Most respondents said close proximity to local golf courses is the best thing about golfing in London and area; the largest group of respondents (29 per cent) travel between 5 km and 10 km to their golf course of choice.
• Most readers (48 per cent) surveyed said they had not planned to purchase any golf clubs during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the driver was the most popular club purchased this season. Golf balls, followed by golf apparel, were the most popular purchased items amongst all golf gear, apparel and accessories, with 72 per cent of respondents stating they planned to purchase from local golf retailers and 41 per cent buying online; 51 per cent planned to spend between zero and $249 dollars on golf gear this year. More than half – 58 per cent – of all survey respondents were aged 55 and over.
• Passion for the game (78 per cent), followed by social outing (72 per cent) are the two biggest reasons why survey respondents golf.
• The vast majority (61 per cent) of those surveyed play golf as part of a foursome; most respondents (70 per cent) ranked the pace of play at local golf courses as average; most respondents (39 per cent) are not members at local golf courses, with private club members (25 per cent) making up the second largest group to participate in the survey.
• 55 per cent said the local golf industry does not do enough to grow the game; discounted memberships was tagged as the best way to involve more junior golfers.
• Slow play was named the area most in need of improved etiquette.
• Most respondents (69 per cent) do not take lessons.
• Most surveyed (70 per cent) said they did not plan to attend any local notable golf events before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled those tournaments; 18 per cent had planned to attend the RBC Canadian Open at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

To read the entire 2020 London and Area Golf Survey results, click 2020 Golf Study Final for a PDF file.

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About LondonOntarioSports.com
LondonOntarioSports.com (est. 2015), London’s Trusted Source for Sports News & Information, is a project from publisher and editor Jeffrey Reed, a member of the London sports media since 1980. An award-winning golf journalist and author, Reed is also publisher and editor of LondonOntarioGolf.com (est. 2004), The Voice of Golf in Southwestern Ontario. The partner websites present that annual Best of London Golf Awards, London Ontario Golf Heart Award and Jeffrey Reed Courage Award.