Article featured in The R&A's Developing Golf Magazine - Volume 2 Issue 4

England Golf's iGolf programme has created a pathway for independent golfers to become full club members, with over 12,000 subscribers having made that transition. 

The initiative, which launched in 2021 with the aim of encouraging an estimated 2.3 million independent golfers to play more, monitor their performance and foster competitiveness, is proving to be a huge success.

In the three years since the programme started, the number of iGolf subscribers who have taken up club membership has hit five figures, generating an estimated £11 million in membership fees. 

"We're thrilled to witness the remarkable success of the iGolf initiative and the impact it has had on the golfing community," said Claire Hodgson, Head of iGolf/iPlay.

"The transition of over 12,000 iGolf subscribers to club membership underpins the effectiveness of our efforts in promoting inclusivity, fostering engagement and our desire to support golf clubs across the country.

"We know that the programme caters for a whole host of people who love their golf but simply aren’t able to get on the course as much as they’d like, while it caters for others who can't yet justify golf club membership. 

"It really has proved to be the perfect solution for a number of people, and hopefully it continues to benefit more in the coming months and years."

Results from the latest iGolf subscriber survey demonstrated the initiative's impact on the behaviour of golfers, with 49 percent of respondents reporting an increase in the amount they play.

Furthermore, 46 percent expressed their likelihood to join a club in the future, suggesting a strengthening of the pathway to full club membership.

An overwhelming majority of subscribers (81 percent) expressed satisfaction or extreme satisfaction with the initiative.

"Members join golf clubs for many different reasons," England Golf CEO Jeremy Tomlinson told the NCG Podcast. "iGolfers join for their own reasons, but what we've been able to create is a succession pathway."

Tomlinson cited the huge uptake in subscriptions (82,000), with 52,000 current subscribers, adding, "Part of the reason there is a drop-off is because 12,000 iGolfers have become members of golf clubs. 

"They have taken it up, they've paid to get themselves a handicap, some insurance and either their circumstances changed where they could become a member, or they said, 'I like this. I like measuring my ability. I want to become more competitive. I want to be more sociable. I want to become a member of a golf club. I want to have those playing rights on a more regular basis'."

iGolf allows non-club members to gain an official Handicap Index along with personal liability insurance. Subscribers pay £46 a year, gain access to the MyEG app, MyStats and many other benefits. They can also gain entry to exclusive iGolf events, the hole-in-one club and customer support. iGolf handicaps are overseen by a dedicated England Golf handicap committee.

iGolf Website