Wave of closures hits British golf sector: 60 clubs disappear in five years

NEWS

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Wijnand Meijboom, Thursday 7 May 2026

84 sec

Despite golf's growing popularity in recent years, the sector in the United Kingdom is under pressure. According to a publication by The](https://thegolfbusiness.co.uk/magazines/TGB_May-26/#page=6]The) Golf Business, no fewer than sixty golf clubs in England and Wales closed between March 2020 and March 2025.

Research based on data from the UK Valuation Office Agency shows that the number of golf venues declined from 1,870 to 1,810 courses during this period. This is striking, as these years coincided with an increase in the number of golfers, partly driven by the coronavirus pandemic. According to analysts, the cause is not so much a lack of interest in the sport, but mainly economic factors. Rising costs for maintenance, insurance and staff are putting operators under pressure. At the same time, fluctuating membership numbers are creating uncertainty in revenue streams. The underlying value of the land is also playing an increasingly important role. Golf courses are often located in attractive areas for housing development. As a result, golf clubs are increasingly being acquired by property developers.

In the sights of investors

Nick Ball, managing associate at TWM Solicitors and involved in the analysis, says that investors see many golf courses as 'ripe for redevelopment'. In some cases, golf remains part of a broader leisure concept, for example in combination with fitness facilities, hospitality or accommodation. In other cases, however, the sport disappears completely in favour of housing development. According to Ball, this trend is similar to developments in other sports sectors, where clubs are broadening their revenue models or repurposing locations in order to survive financially.

Pace of closures increases

Several clubs have closed in recent months to make way for housing projects. Examples include Ifield, Dalmuir and Dunton Hill. As a result, the pace of transformation appears to be accelerating rather than slowing down. Expectations are that these sixty closures are only the beginning of a broader restructuring of the sector. Mergers, acquisitions and redevelopment projects are likely to continue in the coming years.

Relevance for the Netherlands

Although the figures specifically relate to England and Wales, the developments are also relevant for the Dutch market. The combination of rising maintenance costs, pressure on available space and more attractive alternative uses for land also applies here. For greenkeepers and course managers, this means that efficient management, innovation and demonstrating the social value of golf courses are becoming increasingly important to safeguard the future viability of facilities.

This article was previously published on 7 May 2026 on the Greenkeeper](https://www.greenkeeper.nl/article/54011/sluitingsgolf-treft-britse-golfsector-60-clubs-verdwenen-in-vijf-jaar]Greenkeeper) website.

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