KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice has released a new report on the golf industry in Austria and what the future holds as the country aims to host the 2022 Ryder Cup.

The Golf Benchmark Survey in Austria 2015 report provides a range of information to stakeholders in the golf industry, and an in-depth look at Austria as a contender to host the Ryder Cup.

The profile of golf in Austria has grown steadily since the first course opened in the country back in 1901. There has been a marked increase in the sport’s popularity in Austria over the past 20 years, with the number of registered golfers tripling in this time.

The country also has one of the highest concentrations of female golfers in Europe, at 35 per cent.

The future of the game in Austria is also looking positive, with more than 100 clubs in the country participating in the Austrian Golf Association’s Hello Juniors youth programme. This provides young people with the chance to play golf for free or at a discounted price.

“Our study reveals that Austria offers the game of golf a strong foundation to take itself forward with the next generation of golfers and development,” said Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice in the EMA region. “Our analysis has also demonstrated that there appears to be significant additional development opportunities for golf in Austria. Certainly, winning the right to host the 2022 Ryder Cup would further boost the development of golf in Austria and the enthusiasm of industry stakeholders in the country.”

The full report is available to download here.