Golf industry in India is at early development stages, which has gained popularity among urban populace. Initially, golf was viewed as a rich man’s sport in India. Nevertheless, in the last few years, many golf autonomous and government bodies have spent considerable time and efforts to promote golf among the masses. Along with rising income level of middle income group, greater purchasing power, rising middle class populace, corporate events, talk shows, media exposure and greater participation in sport by youth, golf as a sport has developed remarkably in India.
Majority of the golf courses constructed as a standalone businesses either with a clubhouse or along with hotel and resorts in India. However, with time many real estate developers has started housing project with golf courses, since it is considered as a quick and high return prospect for them. Thus, golf with real estate projects, has emerged as a very powerful industry that has been attracting a large portion of the populace in the country. On the basis of percentage, return of investment on standalone golf facilities is usually low. Therefore, from the profit point of view, it is wiser to develop a golf facility with real estate project. In 2013, more than 40 golf residential projects were under construction stage in India.
From the view point of tourism industry, introduction of golf tourism under niche tourism category by Ministry of Tourism is likely to provide unique platform to the sport in order to push the growth in the country. Golf tourism market is budding as a lucrative tour business as every year many players visit India in order to take the advantage of India bargain basement green fees at various golf courses. In the recent years, golfers travelling in the country were majorly from Japan and Southeast Asia countries.
Over the years, golf has been evolved as a sport in India and is no longer considered as a social status game among masses. Now, the essence of the golf sport lies in the hand of both young as well as among the old people. Earlier traditional golf market promoted sport mainly with middle-aged and older populace. However, in the coming years, golf is expected to become popular among the young talents since India is a young country with 430 million young people under the age group of 15-34 years in 2011. In addition to this, parent support for the sport for their kids will play a vital role in the growth of golf sport in the long run and thus, will help the sport to emerge as a serious and visible career option for young golfers in the county. Around 5,250-6,000 juniors played golf in India in 2013.
By 2018, it is anticipated that golf is likely to gain popularity among the women population as many female golfers are participating in international golfing events. From the corporate golf view, golf will add symbolic statement in corporate and executives lifestyle and thereby, will result in increasing participation by the people in golf in the near term.
The report titled “India Golf Industry Outlook to 2018 - Increasing Golf Real Estate Projects to Escalate Growth” provides detailed overview on the golf Industry in India and will aid readers to identify the golf infrastructure, ongoing trends in the industry and anticipated growth in future depending upon changing industry dynamics in coming years. The report will help industry consultants, golf equipment and apparels manufacturing companies, suppliers and other stakeholders to align their market centric strategies according to ongoing and expected trends in the future.