In a vibrant effort to tee off golf into the urban sprawl, The R&A, in cahoots with the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, has unfurled a nifty new guide, “Golf for Smaller Spaces.” It’s more than just a manual—it’s a manifesto for squeezing the ancient game of golf into the nooks and crannies of our bustling cities and beyond.
Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A said, “We have seen that shorter formats of golf are key to introducing new participants to the sport but are also popular with traditional golfers.
The Golf for Smaller Spaces guide has been written, by experts in course architecture, as a blueprint as to how courses can be developed and succeed in a non-traditional size and environment.
“We hope it will serve as a useful reference point for the industry as it responds to the way people want to play the sport and in locations, such as cities and urban areas, that are convenient to them.
We want to give more golfers of all ages, genders and ethnicities pathways into the sport so that they can go on to become the golf club members of the future.”
And it’s not just about newbies strutting to the tee. The guide has a bit of everything for everyone—mini golf for the dabblers, pitch & putt for the weekend warriors, and snappy courses of three, six, or nine holes for those who want their golf quick and feisty.
These courses are perfect for smaller plots of land that are just lounging around cities, waiting to be transformed into green oases.
Here’s a peek at what’s inside: Shanx Golf down under in Australia is crafting mini-golf magic on plots as petite as a cricket infield or as grand as a rugby field.
They’ve got a clever trick up their sleeve—multiple pins per hole, which lets them mix up the layout to keep things spicy.
Over in the sun-kissed south of France, Golf Up in Grimaud is showing off with a pitch & putt that’s cosy enough to fit into your baguette basket.
They’re keeping it green and lean with synthetic turf, so they can forget about the fuss of daily watering and cutting.
Then there’s El Cortes Golf Academy in Mexico, turning the golf business model on its head.
By day, it’s a driving range; by night, a lively ten-hole pitch & putt, pulling in crowds and cash with a clever twist on the traditional golf day.
So, whether you’re swinging clubs between skyscrapers or putting through parks, The R&A’s guide is here to show that the future of golf might just be smaller, smarter, and right in your backyard.
