Golf
A sport where participants aim to hit a small ball with a variety of clubs into a series of holes from different tees (starting points) in as few strokes (hits) as possible.
Golf in Australia dates back to the 1820's, with the first recognised Australasian competition occurring in 1894 before the formation of the first national body in 1898. 4
Discover more about golf through the Clearinghouse evidence base:
- Modified Sports - adaptations that make golf more inclusive and accessible.
- Australian Sport History - history and Hall of Fame information about golf.
Evolution:
- Australian Golf Union [1898-2006]
- Australian Ladies Golf Union [1921-199?]
- Women's Golf Australia [199?-2006]
- Golf Australia [2006-]
Participation
An estimated 1,040,000 Australians [aged 15+] participated in golf at least once in 2024. 2
An estimated 38,000 Australian children [aged 0-14] participated in golf at least once in 2024. 2
An estimated 211,500 Australian women [aged 15+] and 824,500,000 Australian men [aged 15+] participated in golf at least once in 2024. 2
Explore further participation statistics for golf through the AusPlay online portal., opens in a new tab
Governing body
Golf Australia, opens in a new tab is the organisation recognised by government at all levels as the National controlling body for the sport of golf in Australia. 1
Golf Australia, opens in a new tab was formed when the separate male (Australian Golf Union) and female (Women's Golf Australia) organisations amalgamated to become Golf Australia in January 2006. 1
The Professional Golfers Association of Australia (PGA of Australia), opens in a new tab was formed in 1911 and is the third oldest PGA in the world. They own the Australasian Challenger PGA Tour (men), operate it and the WPGA Tour of Australasia (women), and are the sanctioning body for elite professional golf in Australasia. 3
The Australian Golf Industry Council (AGIC), opens in a new tab was established in 2006 providing a forum to help unite the industry on agreed initiatives in the interests of the Australian golf community. The current focus areas include research projects to assist Australian Golf, government relations and strategic collaboration, especially alignment with the Australian Golf Strategy. 5
REFERENCES
- Golf Australia, opens in a new tab, golf.com.au, (accessed 13 January 2026).
- AusPlay Data Portal: Participation by activity, opens in a new tab, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 15 October 2025).
- PGA of Australia, opens in a new tab, golf.com.au, (accessed 13 January 2026).
- Historical and Museum, opens in a new tab, golf.com.au, (accessed 13 January 2026).
- Australian Golf Industry Council, opens in a new tab, golf.com.au, (accessed 13 January 2026).
Documents
The Clearinghouse for Sport has sought permission from relevant organisations for the inclusion of their documents in this archive. Copyright ownership remains vested with the organisation and as such permission from the copyright owner should be sought if you wish to communicate, adapt or reproduce these documents.
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2025[PDF • 6.57 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2024[PDF • 7.46 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2023[PDF • 9.94 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2021-2022[PDF • 5.68 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2020-2021[PDF • 5.56 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2019-2020[PDF • 6.68 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2018-2019[PDF • 7.89 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2017-2018[PDF • 10.23 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2016-2017[PDF • 4.02 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2015-2016[PDF • 5.3 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2014-2015[PDF • 3.4 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2013-2014[PDF • 1.75 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2013[PDF • 12.2 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2012[PDF • 5.53 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2011[PDF • 2.84 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2010[PDF • 5.94 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2008[PDF • 681.37 kb]
- Golf Australia Annual Report 2007[PDF • 1.78 mb]
- Golf Australia Annual Finance Report 2006-2007[PDF • 1.87 mb]
Golf Australia Annual Report 2009 not held.
- Australian Golf Strategy 2022-2025: The inaugural national strategy for Australian Golf[PDF • 1.77 mb]
- Strategy for Australian Golf 2022-2025: summary[PDF • 1.04 mb]
- Growing the Game of Golf in Australia 2018-2021 Strategic Plan[PDF • 829.94 kb]
- Golf Australia Strategic Plan 2013-2016[PDF • 227.74 kb]
- Golf Course 2032 Australia (2022)[PDF • 483.79 kb]
- Vision 2025: the future of women and girls in golf: blueprint (2018)[PDF • 1.37 mb]
- Vision 2025: the future of women and girls in golf: summary (2018)[PDF • 2.99 mb]
- Golf Participation Plan 2013-2016[PDF • 3.73 mb]
- Community Benefits of Golf in Australia: Report Findings (2023)[PDF • 22.45 mb]
- Australian Golf Industry Council (AGIC) Opportunity Research: 2021 summary[PDF • 2.87 mb]
- Golf's 2020 vision: the HSBC Report (2012)[PDF • 4.2 mb]
- The Australian golf industry economic report 2010[PDF • 1.36 mb]
- A study into membership attrition and retention at golf clubs in Queensland (2009)[PDF • 2.73 mb]
- Research summary: a snapshot of the Australian golf industry (2009)[PDF • 764.56 kb]
- Water and the Australian golf industry (2009)[PDF • 5.23 mb]
- Women's involvement in golf: understanding the industry for the next generation of golf (2008)[PDF • 935.75 kb]
- The PGA report: an independent study into the size of the Australian golf economy (2006)[PDF • 1.13 mb]
Participation Reports
- 2021/22 Golf Club Participation Report (2023)[PDF • 1.16 mb]
- 2014 Golf Participation Report (2015)[PDF • 1.49 mb]
- 2013 National Golf Participation Report (2014)[PDF • 2.83 mb]
- High Performance Pathway Review: Australian Golf (2006)[PDF • 2.52 mb]
- Women's Golf Australia Annual Report 2001-2002[PDF • 6.9 mb]
