Every state reckons it's the golfing capital of Australia. For once, there's actual data to settle it. We dug into Golf Australia's 2025–26 national handicap figures - drawn from more than 12.2 million rounds - to see which states play the most, improve the fastest, and turn up most often. Here's what the numbers say, and what they tell us about where the country's used-club market is really heating up.
Australia is playing more golf than it has in 30 years
Golf participation in Australia is on a genuine tear. According to Golf Australia, GA Handicap membership grew to 477,220 members in the most recent season - the fifth straight year of growth, and up 24.1% since 2017–18. That's the strongest sustained run of club-membership growth in three decades.
More golfers means more clubs changing hands - which is exactly why the second-hand and used golf club market in Australia has grown alongside it. But participation isn't spread evenly. Here's how the states stack up.
Rounds played by state, 2025–26
Across the season (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026), New South Wales alone accounted for more than a third of every handicap round played in the country. Here's the full breakdown of 12.2 million rounds:
The 2025–26 golf honour roll, by state
Golf Australia ranked all eight states and territories across four measures: volume (total rounds), momentum (growth), dedication (rounds per golfer) and skill (average handicap). Here's who won what:
| State / Territory | Standout Title | The Number |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Volume champion | 4.21 million rounds — a third of every round played nationally |
| Queensland | Momentum leader | +7.6% year-on-year growth (~148,912 extra rounds) |
| Western Australia | Most dedicated | 28.4 rounds per golfer — nearly three clear of any other state |
| ACT | Most skilful | 16.98 average handicap — lowest in the country |
| Victoria | The climber | +8.0% three-year growth (~250,000 more rounds since 2023–24) |
| South Australia | Sharpest improvers | 18–34 age group cut nearly a full shot (−0.89) this season |
| Tasmania | Most improved | Handicaps fell further (−0.23) than any other state |
| Northern Territory | Youngest field | 14.4% of rounds from under-35s |
You can read Golf Australia's full breakdown in their report, Golf's State of Origin: New data crowns Australia's best golfing states.
What the data means if you're buying clubs
A few patterns jump out that matter for anyone buying or selling used clubs in Australia:
- NSW is the biggest single market. With 34.4% of all rounds played nationally, it's no surprise demand for equipment - new and used - is concentrated there.
- WA golfers play the most per person. More rounds per golfer means faster wear, more upgrades, and more clubs entering the second-hand market.
- The improvers are the buyers. States with the sharpest handicap improvement (SA, Tasmania) tend to be where golfers are most engaged - and engaged golfers upgrade equipment most often.
Junior and women's golf are driving the next wave
Two of the fastest-growing segments in Golf Australia's data are worth watching:
Growth among juniors and women is a big deal for the used-club market specifically. These are exactly the golfers who benefit most from quality pre-owned equipment - getting properly specced clubs without paying full retail while their game is still developing.
Where does your state sit?
Whichever state you're playing out of, the trend is the same: more Australians are playing more golf, more often. And every one of those golfers eventually faces the same question - do you pay full retail for new clubs, or buy quality pre-owned and keep the difference?
At Rising Sun Clubs, we ship professionally graded, pre-owned Japanese golf clubs Australia-wide - to every state on that honour roll. You can browse our current range of used golf clubs here, or read our FAQ on buying second-hand clubs if you're new to it.
Data source: Golf Australia / GOLF.com.au Insights Hub, powered by Capital.com GA Handicap, 2025–26 season.