Data reveals: These are the most golf-obsessed countries in the world

Ireland is the most golf-obsessed country in the world, research conducted by PromoGuy finds.

As we gear up for The Masters Augusta National in Georgia, starting on April 11th, we dug deep to find out the top 10 countries in the world where golf fever is at its peak.

Breakdown per country

Many people claim that golfing is in the blood of the Irish, and this sentiment is reflected in the study's findings. With an impressive score of 380, Ireland stands proudly at the forefront of the world's most golf-obsessed nations. Second place belongs to the United States. Scoring 165, remains a golfing powerhouse, fostering a deep-seated passion for the golf with its diverse geography and numerous prestigious tournaments like The Masters.

With a score of 139, the United Kingdom hit 3rd spot.  For them, golf is not just a pastime but a cultural phenomenon, deeply ingrained in the nation's sporting identity, with centuries-old courses steeped in tradition.

Canada, scoring 138 and taking 4th place. Canadians love being outdoors, regardless of the season, and they love anything that requires a mix of skill and strategy. Fifth is New Zealand, scoring 134. With incredible natural terrain and beauty, New Zealand is home to some stunning golf courses. Australia, on place 6th is scoring 101, with golf evident in its countless courses and vibrant golfing community, making it a haven for enthusiasts.

South Africa, with their perfect weather, numerous courses and some great players, is in 7th place with an 80 score. Even in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is in 8th spot with a score of 45, where golf is still emerging, enthusiasts are drawn to the sport's challenge and the opportunity to embrace a new sporting culture.

Sweden, scoring 41, in the penultimate 9th spot, is fostering a thriving golfing community. As summer ends, Sweden offers golf in crisp, autumn air, with an array of colours as leaves turn red and gold. Lastly, Finland, with a score of 39, ranks 10th in the list. Playing a round of golf in Finland under the midnight sun is an unprecedented experience.

Top 10 most golf-obsessed states in the US

When it comes to the US, South Carolina’s love for the game runs deeper than an uphill bunker, evident by its commanding score of 343 and taking 1st place. The state takes pride in its rich golf history, prestigious courses, and hosting major tournaments.

Minnesota is golf crazy as well. With a score of 319, Minnesota takes high 2nd position. Nebraska shares the third spot with North Dakota, both boasting a score of 307, and have a genuine love for golf.

South Dakota follows closely behind in fourth place with a score of 304, while Montana, as a world-renowned ski resort town, but it's also a golfer's paradise, ranking in fifth place with a score of 291, respectively. Wisconsin takes the 6th spot at 281 score. Iowa is in seventh place with a score of 276, while Hawaii claims the eighth spot with a score of 271, with golf in beautiful places attracting locals and tourists.

Massachusetts in ninth place, with a score of 262, sees golf playing a crucial role as both an economic driver and a tourism attraction. Finally, New Hampshire rounds out the top ten, securing the tenth spot with a score of 258, respectively.

The Masters Tournament

In the second week of April each year, Augusta National in Georgia, USA, one of the four men's major golf championships in professional golf, opens its gates for The Masters. It is widely considered the most exclusive and eagerly anticipated golfing event of the year.

Since its inception in 1934, the tournament has been held at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, without exception.

Even the list isn’t official yet, but currently 102 amateurs and pros, including past champions who have lifetime invitations to the event, 85 of the invitees are expected to compete in this tournament.

Methodology:

The ranking was compiled using Google Trends, which tracked search interest over the past 12 months (March 2023 - March 2024) for topics such as golf, the masters tournament, golf results and golf news.The final list was determined by considering the overall interest level across all these terms in each country.

Google Trends score explained: A value of 100 represents the peak popularity of the term, while a value of 50 means that the term is half as popular. A score of 0 means that a sufficient amount of data was not available for the selected term, or it had zero interest on Google Search.

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