Golf Business News – The GolfSixes League is enjoying global growth

The international expansion of the GolfSixes League has gained momentum over the past 12 months with 20 countries now operating a program designed to encourage young people to play, enjoy and stay in the game.

Six countries joined Great Britain and Ireland in 2022 and another eight started GolfSixes League pilots in 2023. With Iceland and the United Arab Emirates joining in 2024, 20 countries now offer GolfSixes Leagues for young people.

GolfSixes began in 2017 as a six-hole team play event on the DP World Tour. It then evolved into the GolfSixes League, a development project designed to enable participants who are new to golf to learn, play and improve through short-form team golf.

It is a partnership run by the DP World Tour, The R&A, Ryder Cup European Development Trust, Confederation of Professional Golf, Ladies European Tour, and our country partners. The expansion of the GolfSixes League is supported by the Golf Foundation, the charity that created and developed the campaign across GB&I.

With innovation as a guiding light for the GolfSixes League, the first International Indoor GolfSixes League is launched in the winter of 2023/24. Played in simulators, teams from six nations took part, with the Dutch team Sluispolder winning ahead of the Swiss team from Links Leuk Golfresort and the Czech team from Golf Club Horehledy. After this successful launch, the Icelandic Golf Union is experimenting with indoor leagues this year, which are also played in simulations, to attract and engage young golfers during their long season.

The Golf Foundation recently announced that GB&I will feature more than 8,000 players from more than 600 clubs participating in the GolfSixes League. In other countries, where the work is still in the development phase, another 270 clubs and more than 4,000 players will participate in 2024.

To add even more excitement to participants, GolfSixes League activities will be held at several DP World Tour and LET events throughout the season.

The GolfSixes League continues to deliver positive results with a 2023 survey of non-GB&I participants showing that 39% of participants are girls and more than half of participants who were not members of a golf club, became members within a year.

Maria Grandinetti-Milton, Head of Sustainability at the DP World Tour, said: “GolfSixes was born as a shorter tournament format in our 2017 season schedule that could engage new audiences with the sport. Since then, it has taken on a life of its own and spread around the world as a great way to introduce new people to golf. It has been great to see the collaboration between so many key golf clubs and local grassroots organizations to deliver this expansion and we look forward to seeing this momentum continue in the coming years.”

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at the R&A said, “We are delighted to see the GolfSixes League expand globally, this growth is testament to the fast-paced format that makes golf accessible to players and their parents. It’s more important than ever to provide young people with healthy leisure options, so we fully support programs like the GolfSixes League that introduce golf to a fun and fast-paced environment that encourages lifelong enjoyment of the game.”

Ian Randell, Chief Executive Officer of CPG, project manager for the international rollout of the GolfSixes League and sole member of the Ryder Cup European Development Trust, added: “The growth of this exciting program demonstrates the importance of, and the excitement gained from, Short Form Club Golf , especially for the young and beginners. The rapid expansion is a testament to what can be achieved when leading international organizations truly collaborate and work together to provide opportunities for national associations, golf clubs and coaches worldwide. Together with other partners, we look forward to continuing to increase participation and adding new countries in the coming years. “

More information can be found at cp.golf/golfsixesleague