By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
Increases across the board, including 14 per cent jump in scores posted by females
Golf in Scotland is “thriving”, according to the game’s governing body
in its birthplace on the strength of 2025 having been a record year for
golfers submitting scores through the World Handicap System™.
Scottish golfers submitted more WHS scores last year than ever before | Scottish Golf
Scottish Golf has revealed that over two millions scores were submitted
through WHS last year, with “significant levels of growth” in all
categories of play.
The total number of scores registered was 2,039,119, which represented
an overall 14 per cent rise in the number of scores posted in 2025
compared to 2024.
The
total number of scores posted by females shot up by 14 per cent, with
9-hole scores growing by 20 per cent and General Play scores 32 per cent
up on the previous 12 months.
“These
figures – across the board - are fantastic and show that golf in
Scotland is thriving,” said Scottish Golf CEO Robbie Clyde. “It’s
brilliant to have such momentum as we head into 2026.”
Competition
scores totalled 1,422,435 (up 86,922) while General Play scores rose by
more than 166,000 to 616,684. May was the busiest month for play with
353,667 rounds submitted while Saturday 3 May was the busiest single day
with 27,795 scores submitted.
Golf now ‘more flexible and accessible than ever before’
“I
firmly believe golf is Scotland’s national sport and the levels of play
that we have seen in the past year clearly demonstrates that golf
remains a passion – perhaps even an obsession - for many of us!” added
Clyde.
“The
growth of 9-hole golf, a healthy rise in scores submitted by female
golfers and access to General Play scoring shows that golf is more
flexible and accessible than ever before.”
