The Growth of Golf in Peru: A Story of Development and Opportunities

Golf in Peru has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, driven by a combination of strategic efforts between the Peruvian Golf Federation and The R&A. Despite golf not traditionally being a mass sport in the country, there has been a notable increase in the number of golf courses, players with a Handicap Index and junior and women’s development programs.

Peru currently has 13 golf courses and clubs throughout the country, distributed between Lima and other regions. Among the most prestigious is Lima Golf Club, which celebrates its 100th anniversary as the host of the fourth edition of the Women’s Amateur Latin America (WALA) later this month. It is the first time the championship has been held in Peru.

Other notable courses in Peru include Los Inkas Golf Club and La Planicie Golf Club, which have also been instrumental in the development of golf in the country and have hosted important professional tours such as the PGA TOUR Americas (formerly PGA TOUR Latinoamérica).

In terms of the number of players, it is estimated that there are around 3,000 golfers with a Handicap Index in Peru and an estimated 9,000 people who play golf, of whom around 2,570 are members of the 13 golf clubs.

Although this is still a modest figure compared to other countries in the region, such as Argentina or Chile, it is notable that there has been a steady growth in participation, particularly among younger demographics who are engaging with the sport through targeted development initiatives.

One of the cornerstones of this growth has been the support of The R&A, who have worked closely with the Peruvian Golf Federation on a number of initiatives aimed at widening access to the sport.

One of these is the 'Golf for All' program, whose most notable achievement is the creation of the San Bartolo public course, an emblematic project designed to bring golf to more people, especially those with limited resources. Located some 50 kilometres from Lima, the course not only offers an accessible space to practice the sport, but also has a golf school for children from low-income families, allowing new generations to enter the world of golf without the economic barriers that have traditionally limited participation.

In addition to infrastructure, The R&A has supported the implementation of training and youth development programs. The San Bartolo golf school, in particular, is an example of how these initiatives can transform lives by providing children from underprivileged communities with the opportunity to learn the sport and, in many cases, receive quality coaching with a view to competing at amateur level.

Another of the great initiatives promoted by the Peruvian Golf Federation, with the support of The R&A, has been the creation of the Women's Golf Commission, which aims to create a dedicated space for women golfers, fostering opportunities for greater female participation in the sport.

This has led to the creation of the 'The Golf Girls' initiative, which has developed a number of measures to create a platform for golf practice and encourage greater participation. Resultantly, there have been a growing number of local tournaments and an increase in Peru’s international representation in women's golf in recent years.

“We realized if we wanted more women or families involved, we really had to work on making the women feel wanted, like they are being cared for and that they have a space to play,” said Magdalena Villar, president of the Women's Golf Commission, who helped transform Peruvian women's golf. “We had to build a space where the ladies would feel that they were welcome and that is something that was very important. We started talking to captains in the different clubs and explaining to them how important it was to support ladies when they want to start golf.”

The Women’s Amateur Latin America 2024, to be held at Lima Golf Club from 21-24 November, is a clear indication of Peru's growing importance within the region.

This championship will not only comprise the best female talent from across Latin America and the Caribbean, but will also serve to further establish Peru as a key venue for future international events.

The WALA winner will have the opportunity to play alongside the world’s leading women’s professional golfers in three major championships next year: The Chevron Championship (The Club at Carlton Woods, USA), The Amundi Evian Championship (Evian Resort Golf Club, France), and the AIG Women’s Open (Royal Porthcawl, Wales).