If 24 new golfers turned up to play consistently for 8-weeks, what would that mean to you?
Golf is undergoing a cultural shift. Whilst core audiences continue to embrace well-known formats and methods of play (think 18-hole strokeplay on a Saturday morning), the diversification of golfer types (or ‘players’, as some prefer to identify) has influenced change not just in the average age profile of golfers but in their habits and playing preferences too.
These players are entering the game with different expectations—seeking flexibility, faster formats, and more social, lifestyle-driven experiences. So, what’s the market actually saying?
A report from National Golf Foundation (NGF) shows that nearly 50% of core golfers say the social aspect is as important as the game itself. This insight is particularly true for busy professionals and young families, who value structure, routine, and community.
Data from Golf Australia shows strong growth in league and social formats, especially among younger players and women. Furthermore, during a series of pilot leagues ran by England Golf and The R&A last year, social benefits had the greatest impact on a person’s decision to play—more so than the cost of playing and the course it was played on itself. Broadly speaking, golfers in these leagues represented non-traditional audiences.
How could golf respond to these common themes of flexibility and community? To effectively position opportunities to these audiences, value cannot focus solely on the product itself, rather the social outcome it delivers. In other words, how will a golfing experience support somebody’s desire to have a sense of belonging?
We believe (and know) that golf leagues are a fantastic place to start.
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Golf leagues offer something the traditional game struggles to provide: a recurring, time-friendly experience that fits modern schedules and fosters real social connection. As we see across many of our current clients—both on-course and off-course—they consistently prove to be the format best suited to meet player needs and desires.
Typically run on weeknights or weekends—with nine-hole formats, relaxed rules, and recurring groups—they fit neatly into packed schedules. Golf becomes less about carving out a five-hour block, and more about a dependable social ritual.
In the Southern Hemisphere (particularly at golf clubs in Australia and New Zealand), seasonal golf leagues have been a longstanding way to make the most of extended daylight hours in summer.
This holds true for colder and darker environments too, with leagues at indoor golf facilities exploding in popularity during the fall and winter months—where golfers show up weekly to combine play with a pub-style social atmosphere.
Unlike one-off events or casual play, leagues offer a dependable schedule that aligns with players’ lives. A weekly Tuesday night nine-hole league, for instance, becomes more than a game—it becomes a standing social appointment. And that consistency builds habits, loyalty, and relationships, not just revenue.
The best leagues do more than schedule games—they create belonging. When golfers show up each Thursday night and play with the same faces, or compete in season-long points races, a subtle transformation occurs: casual players become committed communities.
That’s why league format and design matter.
With more than 11,000 clients in 60+ countries worldwide, we power and support our fair-share of very successful golf leagues and there are some common themes to lean on:
Leagues that offer player engagement tools such as custom branding, player communications and live scoring see up to 35% higher engagement than those without. Greater engagement creates appetite to play week-in, week-out.
A leading example here is GolfSixes League: a nationally-ran development programme that is now in play across more than 20 countries. Teams of six play six-hole rounds of golf over six weeks across both off-course and on-course locations. In just three years, GolfSixes League has grown to 150 Leagues with more than 16,000 rounds being played.
Case study: the first-ever indoor GolfSixes League.
Well-run golf leagues do more than fill tee sheets—they create self-sustaining social groups that often outlast the league season itself. These micro-communities—men’s weekday 9s, women’s weekend brunch leagues, young professional scrambles—give players a sense of belonging.
This shift is part of a broader trend across the golf industry. England Golf’s iGolf program, Golf New Zealand’s Flexiclub, and social league networks like Twilight Golf are all tapping into demand for community-first formats.
This community effect has tangible business value. Members who feel part of a group are far more likely to return, spend more, and refer friends. Research from McKinsey & Company on consumer behaviour shows that customers who feel part of a community are 2.7 times more likely to remain loyal. That principle applies just as much to a private club in Texas as it does to a city-centre simulator venue in Leeds.
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From weekday warriors to weekend brunch crews, golf leagues are less about the good shots or bad shots, and more about the experience in its totality. People crave both structure and connection, and golf leagues offer both. For golf professionals, club managers and indoor venue owners, the opportunity is clear: build league experiences that mirror the rhythms of modern life, and you’ll build more than participation—you’ll build community.
And that’s how Tuesday night becomes the highlight of someone’s week.