Leading sports research company SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC. (SMS INC.) has announced increased figures in its Golf Rounds Played study for the first quarter 2015 compared with the previous year.
SMS INC. has confirmed that the new year has started positively for the sport, building on the conclusions of 2014 when golf participation finally stabilised. The average number of rounds played increased by 14% in the first quarter 2015, compared to the same period in 2014.
The above average temperatures and the generally drier weather in January 2015 meant that all regions, except Scotland, enjoyed an encouraging start to the number of rounds played, with the Midlands displaying the greatest increase on 2014 (33%).
February was also much drier than the same period 2014, and as a result all regions enjoyed increases in the amount of golf being played in excess of 30%. During this time the Cricket World Cup began with coverage starting in the mornings however this did not have an impact on GB golfing figures.
March 2015 was relatively cold and wet vis-à-vis 2014, and also a month which saw a dramatic culmination in an exciting Six Nations rugby campaign where the final game attracted a TV audience of around 10 million viewers. Both happenings were key factors in all regions suffering decreases in golf rounds played, with the exception of the North region which boasted an increase (5.7%) in contrast to 2014.
Richard Payne, Senior Manager of Sports Accounts at SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC. comments “This increase of 14% in the first quarter is fantastic news for the industry. This new data offers encouraging insight into the future of the game, and we hope to see similar promising figures leading into the summer months before The Open returns to the home of golf at St Andrews in July.”
SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC. www.sportsmarketingsurveysinc.com/
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