UK golf clubs are reporting an increase in the number of golfers booking midweek afternoon rounds as a shift to home working following the pandemic has freed up time for many golfers to clock off early to play.
The number of rounds of golf played on weekdays has surged in the last three years, according to data analysts The Revenue Club, with the total now much higher than pre-Covid levels.
Findings also revealed that afternoon play, which accounts for rounds from midday onwards, enjoyed a particularly strong rise.
In 2019, games played from midday onwards represented 50% of all tee times, whereas this figure has now risen to 60%. This increase was also reflected in the number of weekday rounds, which was up to 59% in 2023 – compared to 56% four years ago.
While midweek rounds have declined slightly so far this year as more workers returned to the office, levels are still elevated.
In an interview given to The Telegraph newspaper, Rob Corcoran, director at The Revenue Club, said: “A higher proportion of golf is being played in the afternoons as flexible workers are clocking off early and heading to the course.”
He added: “There has also been a big shift in the demographic of people playing golf. From older players before the pandemic to a growing number of younger people. We saw this big growth in the 25 to 34, and 35 to 45 age brackets.”
The data was drawn from 1.3 million online visitor rounds recorded by The Revenue Club’s reporting suite, REPORTS.GOLF. The Revenue Club is currently working with 170 golf clubs across the UK to help them generate additional revenue from their online sales channels.