Is Ireland the most golf-obsessed nation in the world?

New research by PromoGuy that analysed Google search trends found that it is, with the United States placing second and the United Kingdom third.

On The Hard Shoulder today, travel writer Fionn Davenport said it came as no surprise to him.

“There are over 360 golf courses in the country,” he said.

“No other country I can think of has more readily accessible golf that is affordable, relatively speaking, in comparison to other countries where golf is considered an elite sport.

“Every town of regular to small size has a golf course, a quality golf course.”

'Relatively cheap'

Mr Davenport said you can play a “very high standard” of golf in Ireland for “relatively cheap”.

“We also have a golfing culture in this country, like Scotland and many parts of England,” he said.

“According to Golf Ireland, there are half a million golf players in Ireland.

“Since COVID there has been a 30% spike in the number of female golfers too - It went up from 70,000 to about 110,000.”

Aerial View of Portmarnock Golf Club and peninsula. Image: Historic Images / Alamy

There are setbacks to getting involved in the sport too, according to Mr Davenport.

“It’s an expensive sport in terms of money, time and it’s also a difficult game,” he said.
“If you want to be halfway good and not smash your clubs every time you play, you have to put in the time.

“People when they reach their 20s, get married, and have families, they also find it difficult to go away and play for six hours.”

Mr Davenport said while golf was first developed in Scotland, it is now more popular in Ireland where there are more golf courses per capita.

Main image: Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. Image: Inpho/James Crombie.