England Golf has announced that 2025 has been another landmark year for the game across the country, with iGolf and iPlay reaching new heights and more points than ever before being sent through the World Handicap System.
a staggering 11.83 million points were sent through WHS™ by 2025 – a 16% increase on 2024 and the highest number since the program was launched.
Nine-hole golf saw particularly strong growth, with submissions up 28%, and 18-hole scores up 14%. Meanwhile, casual play continued its upward trajectory, accounting for 52% of all points and growing 26% year over year.
Following the introduction of four-ball better-ball (4BBB) scores for handicapping purposes in 2024, England saw a 68% increase in acceptable 4BBB scores submitted by 2025, showing that the education and support provided has a real impact on the number of acceptable scores recorded.
England Golf’s continued focus on growing the game for women and girls has delivered significant results.
WOMEN’S GOLF
Female golfers posted more than 151,000 additional points by 2025, a 14% increase. Bank Holiday Monday 5th May was the most popular day of the year for female participation, with 13,200 entries.
Meanwhile, Saturday 3rd May was a busy day for all golf in England, with 98,361 points delivered – including 93,591 from male golfers.
Richard Flint, Chief Operating Officer at England Golf, said these figures show a high quality game.
“Golf is really booming in England, and the statistics are there to back it up,” said Flint. “Our commitment to inclusiveness and accessibility through the Respect in Golf movement is making a real difference. All state-affiliated clubs have adopted and implemented modern ED&I policies, ensuring the game is accessible to all.
“The rise in WHS™ scores reflects the simplicity and popularity of the MyEG app, which has enjoyed a record year with over 500,000 downloads. The education around scoring has clearly improved, and the short limited sets for men and women help more people play together on courses that suit their ability.”
RORY’S RESULT
Flint also highlighted the growing appeal of shorter formats. “The growth in nine-hole scores – especially for women, up 24% – shows that golf doesn’t always have to mean 18 holes. If nine holes help people enjoy the physical, mental, and social benefits of the game, that’s great.
“Other growth factors will include the fact that we’ve had a dry, hot summer, so a lot of people want to get out on the course, and there’s no doubt that the thrill of Rory McIlroy’s win at The Masters, or Europe’s victory in the Ryder Cup, has had the effect of encouraging more people to take up the club.
“All of these factors play a role in furthering our main goal of encouraging more golfers, and we hope that more will continue to take up the bug in 2026.”
