Declining Domestic Golf Population and Price Competition in Golf Equipment

「Adverse weather and extreme heat since June, together with elevated playing fees caused by higher fuel and other costs, have resulted in a slight downward trend in golf course users.」

「In the golf business environment, golf course users have been trending slightly lower, affected by relatively favorable weather in May but unsettled weather and extreme heat from June, as well as persistently high fees due to higher fuel costs and other factors (survey by the Japan Golf Course Owners Association).」

「In the golf business environment, adverse weather and higher fuel costs have kept playing fees elevated, while the aging of golfers has also had an impact, and the number of golf course users has been trending slightly downward.」

「In the golf business environment, the number of golf course users, which increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, has turned to a gradual decline due to weather-related factors such as record heat (survey by the Japan Golf Course Owners Association).」

「In the golf business environment, the number of golf course users, which increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, peaked in fiscal 2022 and has since turned to a gradual decline (survey by the Japan Golf Course Owners Association). During the interim consolidated accounting period, golf course users trended slightly lower, affected by persistently high fees resulting from higher fuel costs and weather conditions such as record high temperatures from June onward.」

「In the golf business environment, the year-on-year change in golf course users was down 2.5% in May and up 2.7% in June (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Current Survey of Selected Service Industries). User numbers have been trending slightly lower, particularly on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, due to persistently high fees resulting from higher fuel costs. However, golf is still considered to retain strong support among many golfers as an accessible leisure activity.」

「Golf course revenue was down 3.6% year on year in February and down 2.3% in March. Golf course users were down 4.3% year on year in February and down 8.0% in March (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Current Survey of Selected Service Industries). The market recorded slight negative growth due to persistently high fees resulting from higher raw material prices and the addition of other activities to the range of leisure options.」

「In the golf business environment, the recovery trend continued for events involving large numbers of participants and group tournaments, but the market recorded slight negative growth due to persistently high fees resulting from higher raw material prices and the addition of other activities to the range of leisure options.」

「Per-round prices remain elevated, primarily due to higher raw material costs. In addition, continued global increases in resource prices and inflation resulting from the weaker yen have dampened consumers' willingness to spend, leaving golf equipment sales sluggish.」

「In the golf business environment, the year-on-year change in golf course users was down 4.8% in May and down 3.0% in June (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Current Survey of Selected Service Industries). The slight decline in users is thought to reflect persistently high golf fees resulting from higher fuel costs, as well as the recovery of leisure options to levels seen before the spread of COVID-19.」

「As the impact of COVID-19 eased, events involving large crowds and competitions for groups continued to recover. Golf course revenue remained solid year on year, up 7.2% in October and 1.8% in November, before falling 4.0% in December, and golf continued to be supported as an outdoor sport that allows people to avoid crowded conditions. Meanwhile, amid higher energy prices and other factors, the price per round remained elevated. Golf course users were up 1.5% year on year in October, down 2.0% in November and down 8.4% in December, raising concerns about future trends.」

「As the impact of COVID-19 eased, reservations by groups for events designed to attract large crowds and competitions increased, in addition to continued use by small groups, mainly individuals. Golf course users were up 0.5% year on year in July, 7.7% in August and down 0.7% in September, representing modest growth, while golf course revenue remained solid, up 6.5% in July, 12.7% in August and 7.6% in September, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Current Survey of Selected Service Industries. Golf continues to be supported as an outdoor sport that allows people to avoid crowded conditions.」

「With the first early summer in 3 years without restrictions on activities, more small- and medium-sized competitions were held, and golf course users remained solid, up 12.6% year on year in May and 7.4% in June, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Current Survey of Selected Service Industries. Since the spread of COVID-19 in January 2020, the number of new golfers has tended to increase because golf is a sport that allows people to avoid the 3 Cs, but that pace has recently begun to stabilize. The industry's challenge going forward is to retain these golfers so that they continue to play.」

「Golf course users were down 8.6% year on year in February and up 1.7% in March. In February, record heavy snowfall and accumulated snow affected areas along the Sea of Japan and inland regions, while strong cold air brought low average monthly temperatures, resulting in continued harsh weather for playing golf. From March onward, weather was generally favorable and user numbers remained solid. Although use by small groups, mainly individuals, has been increasing due to the spread of COVID-19, reservations by groups for events and competitions are expected to increase gradually as restrictions on activities are eased.」

「As golf came to be recognized as a leisure activity with a low risk of infection, active use by small groups, mainly individuals, provided support. Golf course users were up 8.4% year on year in October, 2.5% in November and 2.9% in December, resulting in a 10.7% increase for the year and exceeding the previous year.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, although reservations by groups for events designed to attract large crowds and competitions declined with the spread of COVID-19, use by small groups, mainly individuals, increased. Golf course users were up 15.5% year on year in July, down 10.8% in August and up 5.4% in September, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Current Survey of Selected Service Industries. Golf has also attracted attention as a sport that makes it relatively easy to avoid the 3 Cs, and the number of younger golfers is tending to increase both in Japan and overseas. Playing styles suited to the new lifestyle have also become established, diversifying the ways people enjoy golf and driving its evolution in line with the times.」

「The Japanese women's golf team also attracted attention at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by winning a silver medal, bringing positive news to the golf industry and expected to increase enthusiasm for golf among recreational golfers.」

「One factor is thought to be the increase in people, particularly among younger generations, taking up golf amid changes in lifestyles resulting from the spread of COVID-19. In addition, the historic achievement of professional golfer Hideki Matsuyama becoming the first Asian winner of the Masters Tournament, one of golf's major championships, is expected to further increase enthusiasm for golf.」

「Golf's renewed popularity, including difficulty obtaining reservations at popular golf courses, has been driven in part by recognition that it is an outdoor sport that makes it relatively easy to avoid the 3 Cs, resulting in an increase in younger golfers. Following the lifting of the state of emergency in May 2020, golf course use began to recover, with user numbers exceeding the previous year for 3 consecutive months from October 2020.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, although reservations by groups for events designed to attract large crowds and competitions declined with the spread of COVID-19, use by small groups, mainly individuals, increased. Golf course users were down 9.2% year on year in July, up 10.0% in August and down 6.5% in September, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Current Survey of Selected Service Industries. Golf has also attracted attention as a sport that makes it relatively easy to avoid the 3 Cs, and the number of younger golfers is tending to increase both in Japan and overseas.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, the spread of COVID-19 led to a series of cancellations of events designed to attract large crowds and group reservations for competitions and other events. As a result, the year-on-year change in golf course users was a decline of 37.7% in April, 31.8% in May and 19.6% in June.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, although issues including a declining golf population and aging player base persist, relatively stable weather nationwide supported golf course revenue and users, both of which remained at 100% of the previous-year period, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Current Survey of Selected Service Industries.」

「Across the industry, challenges related to the aging player base and attracting younger people remain, and the environment surrounding golf-related companies continues to be challenging.」

「As the market continues to contract, golf fees and golf equipment sales remain subject to ongoing price competition, and the environment surrounding golf-related companies remains challenging.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, the number of golf course users in Japan in July-September 2018 fell 13.7% year on year to 2,424 thousand, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Current Survey of Selected Service Industries. This is thought to have been significantly affected by extremely hot weather, torrential rain and typhoons. The golf equipment retail market also continues to face the challenge of heavy reliance on new golf club products, mainly woods and irons, amid intensifying price competition for consumables such as balls and gloves.」

「The golf business continues to face issues including a declining golf population and aging player base, but signs of a certain recovery are also evident, including golf course revenue for April 2017 to March 2018 exceeding the previous year, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Current Survey of Selected Service Industries.」

「The golf business continues to face issues including a declining golf population and an aging player base. To revitalize the industry, it is becoming important to expand playing styles suited to golfers' ages and preferences and attract younger golfers, and companies across the industry have begun taking various measures.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, although Japan's golf population continues to decline, an increase in the number of rounds played by golfers in their 60s and 70s has provided support, limiting the decline in golf course users to a slight decrease from the previous year.」

「The 2020 Tokyo Olympics did not lead to a significant increase in Japan's golf population, and the challenging environment surrounding golf-related companies has continued.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, while the spillover effects of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were expected, areas requiring attention included the gradual decline in Japan's golf population due to the diversification of leisure activities and the prolonged price competition in golf equipment sales.」

「Although the industry as a whole has implemented various measures to improve golf's image and attract younger people, the golf population continues to decline, and there are no signs of recovery in the downward trend in golf fees or the selling prices of golf equipment. The environment surrounding golf-related companies therefore remains challenging.」

「Some also point to a decline in absolute demand due to the decrease in the number of golfers caused by Japan's declining birthrate and aging population, as well as limits to the evolution of product performance imposed by competition-rule restrictions, and business risks for companies across the industry are tending to increase.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, areas requiring attention include the gradual decline in Japan's golf population due to the diversification of leisure activities and the prolonged price competition in golf equipment sales.」