Click Here to download a copy of the report

The Australian Golf Industry Council has released the 2013 Melbourne Public Course Rounds Report, the first of a number of planned reports that focus on current public golf trends in Australia’s major metropolitan cities.

In January this year a survey was sent to 38 of the major public golf facilities in the Melbourne market. The survey sought to establish the rounds and pricing trends presently evident in this market.

With metropolitan Melbourne having a high number of public courses within its boundaries, this market is one of the key and most competitive public course markets in Australia.

For the 12 months to December 2013, when assessed on an individual facility basis, the number of rounds played across the public courses surveyed averaged approximately 38,600 for the year.

Green fees averaged approximately $23.00 (excluding GST) across the facilities with the range including fees of $12.00 through to $40.00.

Operators noted a somewhat restrained performance over the 12 month period, particularly regarding rounds demand but have a positive outlook on the year to come.

All surveyed operators are expecting to at least maintain demand levels with more than a third expecting at least 2% to 4% growth.

The most common constraint to further rounds growth noted by respondents was the demand for mid-week rounds.

AGIC Chairman and Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said the report was an important yardstick in evaluating the growth of golf at public facilities in Victoria.

“We are a sport of 1.2 million participants annually and much of the golf those people play occurs at Australia’s popular public golf facilities. In this series of upcoming reports, we’re seeking higher quality data around the trends at public facilities to help us focus our attention in the areas that need it,” Pitt said.

“The AGIC receives regular updates on the number of competition rounds being played by golf club members but it’s just as important that we have the ability to analyse the trends in the public facility market and build a more comprehensive picture of golf participation in Australia.”

A copy of the Melbourne Public Rounds Report is available for download at www.agic.org.au

The Australian Golf Industry Council (AGIC) was established in late 2006 to provide a forum to help unite the industry on agreed industry wide initiatives.

Membership includes: Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association, Australian Ladies Professional Golf, Australian Sporting Goods Association, Golf Australia, Golf Management Australia, PGA of Australia and the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects.