Richard Payne, Director at SMS, commented: “The October figures will make bittersweet reading for many across the golf industry. On the one hand, as golf courses in England and parts of Scotland face four weeks without green fee, pro shop, or food & beverage revenues, it is encouraging to be reminded again of the extraordinary, and seemingly enduring, appetite for golf in 2020. The unprecedented demand witnessed since the end of the first lockdown bodes well for a strong December, as well as to a fast start to 2021.
“On the other hand, with a mild month in progress, and with strong viewing figures for the first ever November Masters highlighting again the interest in golf, it is tempting to wonder what might have been had golf courses been allowed to remain open and build on five consecutive months of growth. Whether November’s lost rounds plunge the annual figures back into decline, or whether the industry can mount another Tiger Woods-like comeback in December, remains to be seen.”