The number of registered golfers in Germany is rising, especially among younger people, though golf remains predominantly an older sport.
‘Golf in Germany sparks more interest than ever before.’ With these words, DGV President Claus M. Kobold announced the growth in registered golfers in Germany at the German Golf Association’s annual kickoff. As of September 30, 2025, the number of DGV memberships increased by 1.3% to 695,617 registered golfers at DGV-affiliated golf facilities. Golf has been growing almost continuously since 2021, and the association hopes to surpass the magic mark of 700,000 memberships next year.
Record Number of Golfers in Germany
Notably, the number of golfers in the 19 to 40 age group is rising, despite Germany’s overall population trend. This trend, which first appeared last year, continued in 2025 with growth of 7.45% compared to the previous year. While the German Golf Association was still uncertain about the reasons for this growth last year, this year they speculate that modern communication methods, digital outreach, and a contemporary golf image are factors. Deputy President Achim Battermann announced that golf clubs engaging potential players via social media and the improved image of golf in Germany may be key drivers of this trend.
Golf in Germany Remains Older and Male-Dominated
Nevertheless, golf remains primarily a sport for older individuals. The largest age group of registered golfers in Germany is 60 and older, comprising 46.9% of all registered players. This is slightly lower than in Denmark (47.4%) and France (49.4%) but significantly higher than in markets like Sweden (31.91%) or Spain (37.18%). The DGV views this as manageable given the growth among younger players. Alexander Klose, Board Member for Services, Legal Affairs, and Communications, said the numbers demonstrate player loyalty over decades alongside the emergence of a younger generation, representing a very healthy combination. However, the decline in golfers aged 40 to 60 nearly offsets the growth in younger players, a trend that needs to be halted.
Golf in Germany also remains male-dominated. While the total number of golfers grew over the last two years, the number of female golfers has declined. Even within the growing 19 to 40 age group, growth among young women is slower than among young men. Numbers of girls under 18 are decreasing, whereas boys in this group show slight growth.
Membership growth is not uniform across all golf courses but represents an average. The number of golf courses in Germany decreased by five to 721, due to various reasons not solely related to profitability.