The Value of Golf to Scotland's Economy report, commissioned by the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) in conjunction with VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise, and conducted by the professional services firm KPMG in association with Oxford Economics, found that the industry generates nearly £1.2 billion ($1.8 billion/€1.4 billion) in revenues, including direct, indirect and induced effects.

More than 20,000 people are employed in the sport in Scotland, which has some 600 golf courses, creating wage payments of £300 million ($461 million/€353 million).

Once costs are taken into account, golf directly contributes £496 million ($762 million/€583 million) a year to Scotland's GDP, equivalent to 0.4 per cent of total economic output.


Hamish Grey, chief executive of the SGU, said the report "clearly demonstrates the significant value of golf to Scotland's economy.

"Comparing it to other industries, we can now see for the first time that for example golf's direct contribution to GDP is 89 per cent that of fishing and fish farming, and 83 per cent of air transport."

Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, said: "Golf is a hugely important contributor to the economy of Scotland, and tourism in particular.

"With a number of major golf events on the horizon in Scotland, it was important to understand the scale of the industry as a whole in order that we continue to build and grow [it] in future."

Gleneagles is scheduled to host the Ryder Cup, contested by top professionals from the United States and Europe, in September 2014.

A copy of the report can be downloaded here.

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