The growth of the sport of golf during the pandemic years is proving to be a difficult chapter in the Swedish Golf Association's 118-year history.
During 2020 and 2021, the number of members increased by about 14 percent.
Today, the union has just over 555,000 members, a historic record.
Younger ones find their way to the golf course
The influx of, above all, younger golfers has also meant that the average age of a Swedish golfer has gone from 50 years to 48. And the increase in membership has positive side effects, says union president Maria Möller.
- The hope is that the increase in membership will contribute to the country's golf facilities having a stable economy.
There are some clubs that have had a hard time over the years, but there I think you notice positive effects, says Maria Möller to SVT Sport.
It's hard to make ends meet
During January to November last year, the association's figures show that just over 9.8 million golf rounds were played in Sweden.
But the downside of the extreme listing is congestion on the country's golf courses.
On many courses, especially in metropolitan areas and along the coasts, it can be difficult, sometimes impossible, to find times for game-loving golfers.
- We have the golf courses we have, you can not build a new course just like that, so it is clear that on some courses you notice that it is a pressure, says Maria Möller.