While the recent storms and downpours may have stopped many golfers in England from being able to access their local course as often as they would like, 2023 has seen 8.51 million rounds of golf posted on the World Handicap System platform over the first 10 months of the year.
That figure represents a 460,000 increase when compared to all 12 months of 2022. Furthermore, these figures are for rounds submitted for handicap purposes, and do not include millions more casuals rounds which have been played.
According to the latest WHS figures, 1.26 million scores in 2023 have been affected by the Playing Conditions Calculator due to abnormal course weather and conditions.
According to England Golf, its MyEG app has enjoyed significant growth since being introduced in 2021. In the launch year just 737,000 scores were submitted, while that figure rose to 1.91million in 2022, while the current tally for 2023 sits at just over 2.16 million, with just under two months of the year still remaining.
The WHS figures also revealed some interesting course-specific stats, showing which courses are the hardest when compared to par. Rockliffe Hall’s monster 7,887-yard, par-72 course came in with a course rating of 79.3 for men to take top spot by a wide margin , while Royal Lytham & St Anne’s 7,092-yard Championship course came in second with a course rating of 76.5.
Hollinwell has proved the toughest track for women golfers, with the 6,550-yard layout having a course rating of 79.8, while Rowlands Castle’s 6,627-yard, par-72 took course took second with a rating of 69.4.
