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(03-11 20:25)Across the world there were 34,011 golf courses and facilities at the start of this year, ruling body the R&A revealed in a report today.
China has 473 facilities, but the study says obtaining information on the growth of the sport in the country is a challenge.
In Asia, Japan has the highest number of golf facilities – 2,383. India has 270 in comparison.
Most of the growth is in China, with 56 courses in development despite a ban. But 46 projects are on hold, the report notes.
While the west dominates with the number of facilities, Asia accounts for 14 percent of the golf courses in the world.
Asia, including the Middle East has 4,778 golf facilities. In the fours years to 2014, 185 facilities have been opened in the region and 92 are being developed.
Produced by the National Golf Foundation, a golf market research organization in the United States, the report reveals that by the end of 2014, there were 34,011 golf courses and facilities in 206 countries.
Of these facilities 79 percent are located in 10 countries – the United States, Japan, Canada, England, Australia, Germany, France, Scotland, South Africa and Sweden.
Although the United States is home to 45 percent of golf facilities and Europe accounts for 22 percent, the report also states that there are 50 countries with only one golf facility compared with 30 where there are more than 100, and eight (outside of the United States) where there are more than 500.
The report says 696 golf courses are under construction or in advance planning.
While 80 percent of these new projects are in Asia, Europe and North America, there are clear signs the sport is spreading with countries such as Belarus, Azerbaijan and Georgia opening their first golf courses in the last two years.
There are initial courses under construction in countries as diverse as Macedonia and Sao Tome and Principe.—AFP/The Standard
