Extended Daylight and Perfect Conditions: Why Summer is Golf’s Main Stage

In the UK, summer brings long days – up to 17 hours of daylight in June – and warmer, more settled weather. Courses are in peak shape, with lush fairways and fast greens making rounds both challenging and enjoyable. These perfect playing conditions drive a surge in participation. In 2024 alone, tee-time booking platform BRS Golf reported a 5% increase in rounds played during the summer months compared to summer 2023, continuing a steady post-pandemic growth trend (BRS Golf, 2024 Annual Golf Rounds Report).

Meanwhile, data from England Golf shows club memberships grew by nearly 8% between 2022 and 2024, with much of that growth attributed to golfers taking advantage of improved course conditions and more flexible membership models introduced by clubs keen to capitalise on peak summer interest (England Golf, Membership Growth Statistics 2024).

Recent course investments have also played a part: many clubs have upgraded drainage and irrigation systems, reducing course closures from summer storms and keeping fairways in pristine condition even after rain. As a result, UK golf participation is not just rebounding from the pandemic – it’s reaching levels not seen since before 2010 (R&A, Growing the Game in Europe Report, 2024).

Seasonal Re-engagement: Golfers Shake Off the Rust

For many golfers, summer still marks the true start of their golfing year. After months of winter weather keeping clubs in the garage, the arrival of longer, drier days sparks a rush back to the fairways. A Golfshake survey from May 2024 found 68% of UK golfers considered their first summer rounds the most anticipated of the year, with over half saying they waited until consistent warm weather before committing to regular play (Golfshake, UK Golfer Trends Spring 2024).

This seasonal excitement isn’t limited to avid players. Initiatives like Women & Girls in Golf Week 2024 set new participation records, with over 4,500 women and girls attending taster sessions and summer clinics – up 12% year-on-year – highlighting summer’s role in attracting newcomers (England Golf, Women & Girls in Golf Week Results 2024). Flexible pay-as-you-play and short-term membership options, now offered by over 300 clubs nationwide, have also made it easier for casual or new golfers to join in during the peak season (Golf Monthly, Membership Trends 2024).

These factors underscore that summer isn’t just when existing golfers play more – it’s when thousands of former and brand-new players flood back to the sport, making the fairways busier and more vibrant than at any other time of year. And this summer, thousands of players - both new and returning - will be making the most of their hours on the course with Open Tee.

Open Tee – Your Summer Golf Companion for a Quick Comeback

Open Tee is the perfect tool for golfers getting back into the swing of things after a layoff. Whether you’re a lapsed player returning this summer or a newbie tackling your first full season, Open Tee’s all-in-one golf app features can help you find your rhythm faster and boost your enjoyment:

• GPS Yardage & Course Mapping: Instantly know the distance to greens, hazards, and targets on tens of thousands of courses in stunning 3D. After months off, you might not recall how far your 7-iron flies – but Open Tee’s “My Bag” remembers for you, remembering your yardage, precision, and flightpath. Not only this, but Open Tee overlays this information on stunning 3D maps so you can choose the right club with no second-guessing. No more misjudging distance on unfamiliar or long-unplayed courses, which is key to lowering scores on your return.

• Cadd AI Club Recommendations: Open Tee’s AI-powered virtual caddie (called Cadd AI) is available to you before, during, and after games. Providing you everything from strategic suggestions, to explanations of rulings - ensuring that you’re always making the most informed, legal plays.

• Score Tracking & Stats: With Open Tee’s digital scorecard and performance tracking, you can log every round and monitor your stats (score distribution, average gross etc.). This is invaluable for returning golfers – you can see improvement over the summer and identify areas that need work. Rather than guessing why your scores are high, you might spot that your short game is the weak link (e.g. too many three-putts) and focus practice there. Tracking your scores also makes it more fun to compete against yourself and measure progress as you shake off the rust.

• Social Features and Community: Golf is a social sport, and Open Tee helps you stay connected. You can share your rounds and highlights with friends, join challenges, and even find buddies for a game. This social element is motivating – it recreates the camaraderie of the clubhouse right on your phone. For someone coming back to golf, seeing friends’ activities or inviting a pal to join you for a round through the app can ease you back in and keep you playing regularly. Plus, friendly competition (like live leaderboards or group tournaments in-app) adds extra excitement as you rediscover the game.

By leveraging these features, returning golfers can overcome the initial hurdles of their comeback. Imagine heading out to play your first 18 of the year: Open Tee’s GPS ensures you’re never unsure about distances; the Cadd AI guides your strategy on tough shots; you relax and enjoy the round, knowing the app is tracking your score and stats for post-game review. Afterwards, you share a photo of your birdie on the 18th with friends in the app’s feed – getting cheers that make you even more excited to tee it up again next week.

A Summer to Remember

There’s a reason participation spikes in the UK each summer: it’s the best time of year to play. Longer days and welcoming weather create perfect conditions for both seasoned golfers and those picking up a club for the first time. Across the country, tee sheets fill from dawn to dusk, and the buzz of activity around clubhouses stretches well into the evening.

This excitement isn’t just anecdotal – recent figures from England Golf show that, in 2024, rounds played per course during the summer months averaged nearly double those in Q1, continuing a decade-long trend of strong mid-year peaks (England Golf, Seasonal Golf Rounds Data 2024). Meanwhile, BRS Golf’s booking data highlighted that 35% of all annual rounds at UK clubs were played between June and August 2024 alone, underlining how central summer has become to the golfing calendar (BRS Golf, 2024 Annual Golf Rounds Report).

Clubs, coaches, and industry groups are increasingly focused on harnessing this surge. Campaigns like Love.Golf’s summer beginner programs and flexible pay-and-play options are bringing new golfers onto the course during peak months, helping the game shed old barriers to entry. England Golf’s 2024 strategy update also pointed to summer as the prime window for retention efforts, with club managers encouraged to invest in welcoming events, group competitions, and pathways for beginners to become regular players (England Golf, Growing the Game Strategy 2024).

So if you’re planning to rejoin the fairways or try golf for the first time, summer is the perfect moment. The combination of stunning course conditions, longer evenings for twilight rounds, and a vibrant community of golfers makes this season uniquely rewarding. Whether you’re chasing personal bests or simply enjoying relaxed rounds with friends, this summer offers the ideal opportunity to fall in love with the game all over again.

Level up your golfing game this summer with Open Tee, available now on the Apple App Store.

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/open-tee-golf-gps-ai-caddy/id6444067467