The number of registered golfers rises significantly, especially among younger people, but golf remains predominantly an older sport.
‘Golf in Germany now sparks more interest than ever before,’ announces DGV President Claus M. Kobold at the annual kickoff of the German Golf Association. By September 30, 2025, the total number of DGV memberships increased by 1.3% to 695,617 registered golfers in affiliated clubs, marking a near-continuous growth since 2021. The DGV hopes to surpass the milestone of 700,000 memberships next year.
Record Number of Golfers in Germany
Notably, the number of golfers aged 19 to 40 is rising against the general population trend in Germany. This trend, which emerged last year, continued in 2025 with a growth of 7.45% compared to the previous year. While the DGV was initially uncertain about the reasons, this year it attributes the growth to modern communication methods, digital outreach, and a contemporary golf image, as stated by Deputy President Achim Battermann. Social media engagement and improved perception of golf may be key factors behind this trend.
Golfers Aged 60 and Over Predominate
Golf, however, remains primarily an older sport; golfers aged 60 and above represent the largest group at 46.9% of registered players in Germany. This is slightly less than in Denmark (47.4%) and France (49.4%) but considerably older compared to Sweden (31.91%) or Spain (37.18%). The DGV views this as manageable due to the influx of younger players. Alexander Klose, Board Member for Services, Law, and Communication, emphasizes that loyal golfers span decades while a younger generation is growing. Yet, the decline in players aged 40 to 60 needs to be addressed to maintain this balance.
Gender and Club Trends
Despite overall growth in German golfers, the number of female golfers is declining, including in the 19-40 age group, where young women’s growth lags behind men’s. The numbers of girls under 18 are decreasing even as boys in the same group see slight growth. Membership growth is uneven across clubs, with the total number of golf courses reduced by five to 721 due to various reasons beyond profitability.