There are 9,030 employed in the Golf sector on the island of Ireland, 6,800 in the Republic of Ireland and 2,230 in Northern Ireland.
This is according to a new report commissioned by the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) and the R&A which estimates consumer spending on golf in the Republic of Ireland alone is now worth €379m million annually.
The report, ‘A Satellite Account for Golf in the Republic of Ireland’ was conducted to evaluate golf's economic value to the Republic of Ireland and found that the top three elements of this consumer spending are €94 million on club membership fees, €46 million on food and beverage in clubs and €39 million on golf equipment.
Golf clubs are the most significant employers (34%), followed by the golf equipment and sportswear sectors (13%) and the tourism and accommodation industries (11%). These employment levels equate to the golf industry being responsible for 0.3% of total employment in the Republic of Ireland – the equivalent of one in 300 jobs.
Meanwhile, the Gross Value Added (GVA) of the golf industry in the Republic of Ireland was €202 million which equates to 0.1% of the entire Irish economy. The major contributors to golf's GVA are the activities of golf clubs, including food and beverage operations and recreational golf, at €89m (44%).
The GVA analysis also highlights golf’s important association with the golf equipment, clothing and footwear sectors (€21m), tourism and accommodation in golf resorts (€25m) and the construction and real estate industries (€15m).
There are 281,000 adult golfers in the Republic of Ireland (103,000 in Northern Ireland), of whom 160,000 play the sport at least once every four weeks. Figures show that the golf participation rates in the Republic of Ireland are higher than the UK as a whole with 7.9% of the Irish population participating in golf on an annual basis compared with a 7.4% participation rate in the UK.
Chairman of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland, Redmond O’Donoghue says, "We commissioned this piece of research because, for too long, we lacked specificity with regard to the economic impact that our sport makes in the wider Irish community. This study proves that golf plays a far more important role in our economy than many would have expected."
He added, "We plan to use this study to underpin our arguments for greater support for the game of golf from both the public and the private sectors. It is quite clear now that golf, as well as being a healthy and enjoyable activity, makes a significant contribution to the economy."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
