How we helped The R&A to measure the impact of Covid-19 on the UK golf industry

On 23 March 2020 the UK went into 'lockdown' as a response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Sport was suspended with immediate effect and the UK's 3,000 golf clubs were forced to close their doors. 

In order to help make the case to Government for golf's safe return to play we produced an estimate of the economic impact of lockdown on the golf industry.

Economic modelling

Using our 2016 Satellite Account for golf as a baseline, we recalibrated the model to update it and then model the impacts of lockdown.

Survey of golf clubs

In addition, we conducted an online survey of nearly 700 golf club managers across the UK to gauge the impact of the lockdown on their businesses. Over 90% reported putting at least some of their staff on furlough and typical reductions in income over the first six weeks were around £60k to £90k.

Presentation to All-Party Parliamentary Golf Group

To keep the golf industry leaders up to date with the latest developments, we reported in to the APPGG and presented the headline findings at one of their meetings.

Similar reports

• A Satellite Account for Golf in the UK (The R&A, 2016)
• A Satellite Account for Golf in the Republic of Ireland (Confederation of Golf in Ireland, 2017)
• UK Sport Satellite Account, 2011 and 2012 (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, 2015)
• Gross value added in sport-related construction activity in 2010 (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, 2015)
• Study on national Sport Satellite Accounts (SSAs) in the EU (2016) (Publications Office of the EU, 2016)