The number of registered golfers in Germany rises significantly, especially among younger players, though golf remains mostly an older sport.
‘Golf in Germany sparks more interest than ever before,’ announced DGV President Claus M. Kobold at the German Golf Association’s annual kickoff. As of September 30, 2025, registered memberships increased by 1.3%, reaching 695,617 players in DGV-affiliated golf clubs. Golf has been growing almost continuously since 2021, with hopes to surpass the 700,000 mark next year.
Record Number of Golfers in Germany
Notably, the 19- to 40-year-old age group shows a 7.45% increase compared to last year, defying general population trends. While last year the reasons for this growth were unclear, this year the association attributes it to modern communication, digital outreach, and a contemporary golf image, as stated by Deputy President Achim Battermann. Social media engagement and improved public perception may be driving this trend.
Golfers Aged 60 and Above Predominate
Despite growth among younger players, golf in Germany remains dominated by older individuals, with 46.9% of players aged 60 or older. This is slightly lower than Denmark (47.4%) and France (49.4%), but higher than markets like Sweden (31.91%) and Spain (37.18%). According to Alexander Klose, Board Member for Services, Law, and Communication, this combination of loyal older players and a growing younger generation is healthy. However, challenges remain as nearly as many golfers aged 40 to 60 drop out as young players join.
Gender Disparity Persists
Golf in Germany continues to be male-dominated. While the total number of golfers grows, the number of female players declines, even among the 19-40 age group where growth is slower for women than men. The number of girls under 18 is decreasing, while boys under 18 show slight growth. The total number of golf courses decreased by 5 to 721, due to various reasons not solely linked to profitability.