P.E.I.'s 2024 golf season saw more rounds than ever before

Prince Edward Island had a record-breaking year for golf in 2024, according to Golf P.E.I., which represents 18 member courses in the province. 

There were 446,000 rounds played in all, an increase of 12.3 per cent compared to the year before. 

Sam MacPhail, the CEO of Golf P.E.I., said the weather trends this golf season helped drive growth. 

While the season wasn't necessarily longer, MacPhail said his association wants people to "keep golf in mind in those earlier and later times of the season." 

He also credited collaboration across the industry that saw everyone "lifting each other up a little bit" for the season's success.  

"It's a typical story: If your neighbour's grass looks better than yours, you want to pull up your socks and do a little bit better," he said.

"I think everyone has that kind of mentality where they want to be at the same level, so when we do welcome golfers, whether residents or non-residents, we have the best product for them every day." 

'Uptick for golf tourism'

From a tourism perspective, the metric to look at is the number of paid rounds, since people with memberships don't pay for rounds individually, said MacPhail.

This golf season saw 210,684 paid rounds, an increase of 12.1 per cent from last year. MacPhail said this year was the first time this number has ever topped 200,000.

"There was an uptick for golf tourism," he said. "In the last few years ,we were worried about what would tourism look like after the pandemic, but it certainly remains strong." 

MacPhail said golf experienced a COVID boom, with more people getting and staying involved with golf as a pastime that features natural social distancing outdoors. 

Bookings begin for 2025

Looking ahead to next year, MacPhail said there are strong indications that it will be another good season. 

With bookings already coming in, he has advice for golfers looking to tee off in 2025. 

"Book your times early and make sure you get a good group of people to play with, because that's what it's all about at the end of the day," he said. 

"I think golf is a great thing, not only for your health but also your mental health. You get to go out and hang out with your friends and make memories that way."