The global golf tourism market is estimated at around USD 30.01 billion in 2025, with projections to nearly USD 63 billion by 2035. Europe alone (including classic and emerging golf destinations) is expected to grow at ~7% CAGR between 2025 and 2035.
For these reasons, I was interested in understanding Rik Ruts, CEO of Leading Courses, and his perspective on the thought processes and planning strategies of golf travelers in the year 2025.
What factors have influenced the selection of golf vacation destinations in the past 3
years?
Golfers increasingly rely on trusted online sources when deciding where to play abroad. Many of them use Leading Courses to compare regions and clubs through our independent reviews, rankings, and map views.
Whether they are considering destinations such as the Costa del Sol or Tenerife, golfers often use our platform to find out which clubs are available and how other golfers rate their experience across nine key categories.
Social content has also become more influential.
We actively repurpose our review-based insights on social channels to reach golfers researching destinations, and we occasionally collaborate with knowledgeable creators who also share reviews.
The combination of reliable platform data, authentic golfer opinions, and social content plays a key role in guiding golfers in their destination choices.
Which social proofs influence the most when choosing a golf holiday destination?
Clubs with a strong rating profile attract significantly more attention. Not only the clubs above 9.0, but also those consistently scoring between 8.0 and 8.5.
Golfers value high quality and consistency, and they also look closely at review volume and recency.
Clubs without recent reviews are often considered less relevant, so maintaining a steady flow of new reviews is essential.
Do you think golf travelers are also considering more value for money when selecting their destinations?
Yes. Value for money has become increasingly relevant.
This is one of the reasons we developed the Greenfee Value Index, which highlights the relationship between a club’s rating and its green fee level.
At this moment, the index is used in our business markets for Spain and Portugal, but it has the potential to support consumer decision-making in the future.
Golfers also look beyond the golf course itself. Hospitality, facilities, and maintenance remain essential, and sustainability is gaining weight.
On our platform, we highlight clubs that demonstrate strong environmental practices, which helps golfers who prioritise eco-friendliness identify destinations aligned with their values.
What strategies can countries like Madeira Island or Hungary use to draw more golf travelers?
Madeira Island is already a well-established and popular golf destination, with courses such as Palheiro Golf, Clube de Golfe Santo da Serra, and Porto Santo, and new courses under construction.
Hungary, with clubs like Zala Springs Golf Resort, still needs additional visibility to reach a broader group of international golfers.
To increase that visibility, both regions can benefit from involving reviewers, journalists, and experienced golfers early.
When new courses or upgraded facilities are launched, inviting expert raters and active reviewers helps generate credible stories, strong photos, and authentic reviews that golfers rely on when selecting their next destination.
We regularly join these familiarisation trips when invited, just as we did in Portugal with openings such as Terras da Comporta.
Our expert raters and gold and silver members experience the course and share high quality reviews, blogs and insights that carry significant weight with golfers.
For smaller or emerging golf destinations like Madeira Island or Hungary, this approach should be combined with targeted promotion on Leading Courses and through selected media channels.
By doing so, golfers actively seeking new places to play are exposed to compelling, trustworthy information about the region.
This combination of expert reviews and focused promotion is one of the most effective ways to attract more golf travelers.
What digital tools do golf travelers expect from golf destinations?
Golfers increasingly expect digital support before and during their trip. Score apps and course information tools are popular because they help players navigate unfamiliar layouts.
While traveling, golfers rely heavily on our mobile website and app to
- find nearby courses,
- compare ratings,
- read reviews, and
- book tee times.
Leading Courses is used not only for pre-trip orientation but also as a practical tool on the ground to select and book courses near their hotel or resort.