England Golf has won the Sports Innovation Award at the 2024 Sports Business Awards for its iGolf initiative.
iGolf, which was set up in 2021 to cater for independent golfers, has gone from strength to strength, with over 54,000 current subscribers.
The initiative has bridged the gap between casual golfers and club golfers, with over 13,000 iGolf subscribers having transitioned into golf club membership since its inception.
The initiative has also seen England Golf run championships specifically for iGolfers, and following a first event proving popular in 2023, 2024 saw the governing body introduce three regional events with the top players qualifying for a final at the National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa.
England Golf Chief Executive Jeremy Tomlinson said: “We’re amazingly proud to receive this award, it is testament to all the amazing hard work our team and volunteers have dedicated to this initiative over recent years.
“iGolf provides a wonderful opportunity for golfers, who couldn’t commit to club membership, to obtain a handicap and enjoy holding the unique measuring index for their sport.
“The reaction to iGolf has been tremendous, and we have seen our subscription numbers grow year on year, with 2024 being the best yet.
“As a governing body, we have an unwavering commitment to making our game as inclusive and accessible as possible, and iGolf is further evidence of that.”
