Written By Jeffrey Reed
For almost five decades, I have written about golf in Southwestern Ontario. People often ask me, ‘What are you most proud of when it comes to local golf?’ My answer comes quickly: per capita, there are more golf courses in London and area than anywhere else in North America. And, more than two-thirds of local golfers are avid golfers–multiple reports have shown that in almost every other studied community, there are more casual golfers than those who live the golf lifestyle.
In fact, if you look even closer, you’ll discover that Middlesex County rests in the heart of North America’s biggest golf hotspot. Across Southwestern Ontario, local golfers have access to 13 private golf clubs, 112 semi-private and public clubs, 20 stand-alone outdoor golf practice centres, numerous golf ranges housed at local clubs and open to public golfers, plus a growing number of indoor golf simulators and practice centres.
The golf industry contributes tens of millions of dollars annually to the local economy, including spending at golf clubs, retail sales and charity golf fundraising. The groundbreaking 2024 London & Area Golf Survey, conducted by LondonOntarioGolf.com, reported that 88 per cent of the 1,017 survey respondents consider themselves avid golfers as opposed to casual golfers, with 61 per cent playing more than 40 rounds per year, and another 28 per cent playing 21 to 40 rounds each season.
With eight private, nine semi-private and 14 public golf clubs in Middlesex County, plus numerous practice facilities and indoor golf simulators open year-round, there is no denying that golf is a big driver of the local economy. We are perhaps Canada’s most notable golf capital, given our participation rate, our number of courses, the quality of our links and the important amateur and professional tournaments we have hosted over the past century.
Still, the great debate–is Southwestern Ontario a golf destination requiring a larger marketing effort? –continues without a clear answer. Local golfers surveyed in 2024 were split right down the middle. No surprise, even our local municipalities are doing very little to market themselves as golf destinations. Sure, our golf season is relatively short, but all evidence supports the argument, much more can and should be done to promote our great golf amenities.
Since the pandemic, local golf courses have reported a record number of tee times – many new golfers discovered the sport while existing golfers further embraced the golf lifestyle which they had bought into decades ago.
But younger golfers ages 18 to 34 now represent the largest growing demographic amongst all golfers in Canada–and that’s terrific news for the game and the industry as a whole.
Golf, they say, is a game for a lifetime. No one knows that more than Middlesex County.
Award-winning writer Jeffrey Reed has covered Middlesex County sports since 1980. He is publisher and editor of
LondonOntarioSports.com. Reach him at
jeff@londonontariosports.com.
