Major tournaments, growing golf circuits and new tourism ventures are putting Africa’s fairways in play for a much bigger market.
By Bonface Orucho
1 September 2026 · 7 min read
From South Africa and Kenya to Rwanda, Morocco and Uganda, golf is increasingly being packaged as a gateway to high-value tourism, business and investment.
Africa is moving to turn its growing golf industry into a bigger tourism and investment business, with countries using major tournaments, golf resorts and regional circuits to attract affluent travellers and corporate spending.
The push reaches a new stage this week as the inaugural Africa Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) brings golf destinations, tourism authorities, investors and international buyers together in South Africa.
The convention takes place in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, from 18 to 21 August.
According to organisers, the platform is designed to help African destinations sell golf as part of a wider tourism proposition rather than as isolated courses or tournaments.
“Africa has all the ingredients to become one of the world’s leading golf tourism destinations,” Neo Peete, founder and convention director of AGTC, said in a July 2026 statement.
“AGTC creates a platform for governments, tourism boards, investors and the private sector to collectively showcase Africa’s diverse tourism offering. When Africa works together, we become far more competitive on the global stage.”
The conference comes as the sport already has a sizeable participation base.
According to The R&A’s Global Golf Participation Report 2025, published in June 2026, Africa had about 329,000 registered golfers in 2025 and an estimated 741,800 people playing on 9- or 18-hole courses when registered and unregistered players are combined. The report counted 820 9- or 18-hole courses across the continent.
Globally, 65 million adults were playing golf in 2025, up by one million from 2024, while junior participation reached 47.1 million, up by 3.2 million in a year, according to The R&A.
The African numbers matter when considered through what happens when golfers travel. A round at a destination course can mean another hotel night, a domestic flight, a safari, a restaurant booking, a corporate event or a longer stay.
South Africa has the clearest evidence of that wider economic effect. An April 2026 analysis by Investec put the country's golf economy at about R49 billion (about US$3.03 billion) a year, supporting approximately 40,000 jobs across the value chain. Citing Handicaps Network Africa for playing data, the analysis said 4.2 million rounds were played in South Africa in 2024, equivalent to more than 11,500 rounds a day.
“Golf in South Africa is … a mature economic ecosystem that supports employment, drives tourism, and contributes meaningfully to national growth,” Investec said in the April analysis.
You may also like
Athletics South Africa At Loggerheads With Comrades Marathon
WATCH News Agency · 5d ago · 2 min read
From North End To The National Stage: Lakham Gqongo Reacts To His National U20 Call-Up
Asemahle Mfombi · 5d ago · 4 min read
