Moruya Golf Club has seen a marked increase in membership numbers since the COVID-19 outbreak according to numbers recently released by Golf NSW.
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The club has seen an increase of 10.7 per cent, slightly higher than the state's regional average of an increase of 6.4 per cent.
The Illawarra region has seen one of the biggest increases in regional NSW, with Gerringong (20.8), Worrigee Links (20.86) and Jamberoo (34.17) all seeing membership increases of more than 20 per cent.
Metro clubs also saw a massive increase, including big jumps at Lane Cove (38.5), Northbridge (35), Penrith (24.7), and Marrickville (49.6).
The largest percentage increase in the state sits with Teven Valley Golf Club, just northwest of Ballina on the Far North Coast, which saw an increase of 159 per cent in the last 12 months.
A spokesperson from Golf NSW said club membership across New South Wales was "surging at a rate not seen in almost a generation".
"With the pandemic's impact now approaching 20 months and most, if not all, organised community sport derailed because of COVID, golf has rapidly become the go-to form of essential exercise many people crave," they said.
"With demand increasing and players out in record numbers, it is no small coincidence membership numbers are now climbing.
"What started as a slight jump in memberships during the state's first lockdown in 2020 has become a wave of new memberships this year."
Golf NSW CEO, Mr Stuart Fraser, said it was pleasing to see the sport grow after several years of declining membership.
"The first positive signs appeared in the middle quarter of 2020 coinciding with the first COVID lockdown," he said.
"With many other avenues for sport shuttered during the pandemic, the ability to keep the game open, to have members continue to play while maintaining correct social distancing was critical.
"Twelve months on, and we can see from the affiliation numbers rolling in from across the state, last year's initial small growth is now turning into something substantial.
"The surge in membership is comprehensive as well. Not only are we seeing former golfers return to the sport, but we are also seeing women, juniors, and millennials join in increasing numbers."