Report: Golf contributes €7m annually to Irish economy
Paul Haran (Golf Ireland Chair), Robert Oxley (The R&A), Mark Kennelly (Golf Ireland CEO), Simon Shibli (Sheffield Hallam University) and Tracy Bunyan (Golf Ireland COO) at the launch of the new report on Thursday.
New Golf Ireland research the sport contributes €717 million annually to the Irish economy and supports 15,600 jobs.
Conducted by the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, in collaboration with The R&A, the study assesses consumer spending, Gross Value Added (GVA), employment and tax revenues.
The report indicates that in 2023, golf activities contributed €717 million in direct economic value to the Irish economy, marking significant growth. This is fuelled by increased participation, strong club membership, and a recovery in golf tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Golf-related consumer spending reached €703 million, averaging €100 per head of population. Club memberships accounted for €143 million, or 20% of all golf expenditure.
Golf directly supports approximately 15,600 jobs across Ireland, while the sport generates €277.6 million annually in taxes from consumption, income and corporate profits.
“These findings highlight golf’s major economic role here, underscoring our sport’s ability to drive growth and create employment across Ireland. Through initiatives like Get into Golf, Unleash Your Drive and iGolf, we are actively working to make golf more accessible and inclusive, ensuring its continued appeal,” said Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly.
“We are particularly encouraged by the growth in golf tourism and event attendance, which signals a strong future for golf as both a sport and a key driver of economic activity in communities throughout the island of Ireland.”
The return of The Open to Royal Portrush next month is set to deliver a further boost to the Northern Ireland economy. In 2019, The 148th Open generated more than £100 million of economic benefit for Northern Ireland, according to the study.
Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, said: “We have seen the benefits that golf brings in many other parts of the world but what this research makes clear is that golf makes a substantial contribution to the economy of Ireland and positively impacts the wider community in numerous ways.
“The continuing strength of the golf sector throughout Ireland and the efforts of Golf Ireland to encourage more people to take up the sport are hugely impressive. The staging of global sporting events such as The Open can help to catalyse further growth in the sport and The R&A will continue to play its part in helping to maintain that momentum.”
The report identifies opportunities for future growth by encouraging higher female participation, investment in infrastructure, and leveraging Ireland’s international reputation as a world class golfing destination.
“Golf is a significant industry in Ireland, which might otherwise go under the radar were it not for the Satellite Account research,” said Professor Simon Shibli, Director of the Sport Industry Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University.
“It is an industry that has grown impressively since our 2017 study, based on 2014 data. The fundamentals are in place for future growth in economic impact, notably in the form of invisible exports from visitors coming to play or to watch golf.”
