Women’s golf is growing at a record pace worldwide. According to the R&A’s Global Golf Participation Report published this month, women now account for 34% of all adult golfers across the organisation’s key markets, up from 31% the previous year. The figures span 148 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean and Oceania.
The trend is consistent across both established and emerging golf markets. In Germany, women now account for 41% of adult participants; in Argentina, 36%; in Great Britain & Ireland, 33%; and in Australia, 31%. Also, this month in the United States, the National Golf Foundation reports [2]a 45% rise in female on-course golfers since 2020, with the total surpassing 8.1 million – the highest on record – and women now accounting for 28% of all on-course play.
The growth in participation is matched by momentum in the professional game. The LPGA Tour’s 2025 schedule carries a record $131 million in prize money, up roughly 90% in four years, while the 2023 Solheim Cup drew 9.5 million viewer hours – with a third of that audience having never watched the men’s Ryder Cup. These are not just sporting milestones; they are signals of a cultural shift that is driving new audiences to the game and, increasingly, new travellers to the tee.
Dolores Brown, Head of Tournaments at Golfbreaks, said: “What the data reflects is something we’ve been experiencing in practice for a while now. Female golf travellers are increasingly sophisticated in how they plan and what they expect, the course is one part of a broader experience that includes wellness, culture and, critically, the people they’re travelling with. The opportunity is in understanding that these are golfers looking for a different kind of travel with a different set of priorities, and designing product that actually reflects that.”
For the golf travel industry, this represents a significant and growing commercial opportunity. Female golf travellers are increasingly experienced and discerning, with clear priorities: world-class courses, wellness, a strong sense of community and destinations that make them feel genuinely welcome. International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), organised by RX, returns to the Palais des Festivals, Cannes from 19-22 October, and the growth of women’s golf travel will be among the defining conversations at this year’s event.
Fiona Ashton, Event Manager, IGTM and IGTM Discovery, said: “The growth in women’s golf is one of the most compelling stories in sport right now, and its implications for travel are significant. Across every market we look at – from Europe and Asia to North America and beyond – we’re seeing more women playing, more women travelling and more operators developing product to serve them. These are discerning travellers with high expectations and a clear sense of what they want from a golf trip. The industry has a real opportunity here, and IGTM is where it gets acted on.”
Research released by 18Players in partnership with IGTM points to the shape of that demand. More than half of golfers surveyed (56%) said non-golf elements – wellness, scenery and culture – are either ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important when choosing a golf trip, while 79% said they would consider travelling with a larger group of friends or family. Both findings are especially significant for the women’s travel market, where the opportunity to connect with like-minded people and share experiences is often a key factor in booking decisions.
Nicole Wheatley, founder of the Women in Golf Awards and CEO of marketing agency Medi8 Golf, added: “The rise of women’s golf isn’t just happening on the course – it’s being driven by the women shaping the game behind the scenes. From coaching and course management to media, retail, and governance, women working in golf are expanding access, elevating standards, and redefining what the sport can be. Through the Women in Golf Awards we see their leadership opening doors for the next generation, and the momentum we’re seeing today is a direct result of their vision and determination.”
This year’s IGTM event also marks the launch of IGTM Discovery, the official expansion of IGTM that brings the wider golf industry into the same environment for the first time. Connecting suppliers across technology, equipment, apparel, retail and club operations with PGA professionals, golf directors and club managers, IGTM Discovery broadens the conversation from golf travel into the operational decisions that shape how women experience the sport on the ground – from the equipment they are offered to the programmes and environments that facilities create for them. With more than 50 exhibitors and over 1,700 golf professionals expected to attend, it represents a new chapter for the event and a new platform for industry-wide action on women’s golf.
With female participation at record levels across the world and the pipeline of prospective golf travellers stronger than ever, the industry’s ability to respond – with the right product, the right environments and the right experiences – has never mattered more. Together, IGTM and IGTM Discovery will bring together the destinations, operators, suppliers and professionals best placed to meet that demand.