The number of registered golfers in Germany increases more than last year, especially among younger people, but golf remains predominantly old.
“Golf in Germany sparks more interest today than ever before.” With these words, DGV President Claus M. Kobold announces the growth of registered golfers in Germany at the German Golf Association’s annual kickoff. The total number of DGV memberships as of September 30, 2025, rose by 1.3% to 695,617 golfers registered at DGV-affiliated courses. Golf has been growing almost continuously since 2021. The DGV hopes to break the magical mark of 700,000 memberships next year.
More Golfers in Germany Than Ever Before
Notably, the number of golfers is rising mainly in the 19 to 40 age group, against Germany’s population trend. This trend, first visible last year, continued in 2025 with a growth of 7.45% compared to the previous year. While the German Golf Association was puzzled about the reasons last year, this year they offer some assumptions. “According to the association, modern communication styles, digital engagement, and a contemporary golf image are paying off,” states Achim Battermann, DGV Deputy President. Golf clubs engaging prospective golfers through social media and an improved image of golf in Germany might be key factors in this trend.
Majority of Golfers Are 60 and Older
However, golf remains primarily played by older people. The largest age group in Germany is 60 years and above, making up 46.9% of all registered golfers. This is slightly less than in Denmark (47.4%) and France (49.4%). Compared to markets like Sweden (31.91%) or Spain (37.18%), golf in Germany has an older player base. The German Golf Association views this calmly due to the growth trend among younger players. “Our figures impressively show that people remain loyal to golf for decades, while a younger generation is growing – a very healthy combination,” says Alexander Klose, Board Member for Services, Legal, and Communication. However, much remains to be done to stop the trend of losing nearly as many golfers aged 40 to 60 as the number of young golfers joining.
Golf remains male-dominated as well. While the number of golfers in Germany has grown over the past two years, the total number of female golfers is declining. Even in the growing 19 to 40 age group, growth among young women is slower than among young men. Numbers for girls under 18 are even decreasing, while boys show slight growth.
The membership growth is not uniform across all golf courses but reflects an average. The number of golf courses in Germany has decreased by 5 to 721. This has various reasons and is not solely due to lack of profitability.