The cost and accessibility of golf have long been debated by fans and critics alike. New data now settles it: golf is Australia’s most expensive sport.
New research by sports equipment retailer Net World Sports analysed AusPlay participation and spending data to reveal the most and least cost-effective ways to stay fit in Australia. They also surveyed 1,000 Australians to discover how the cost of fitness has influenced their behaviour.
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Key findings from the survey include:
• Golf is Australia’s most expensive way to stay active, costing $1,545 a year. 86.7 percent of participants pay to play, and adult participation is at 4.6 percent.
• Golf costs $1,335 more than the cheapest sport, recreational walking, with recreational walking leading to only a $210 average annual sum for participants.
• Pilates is Australia’s second-most expensive sport and the most expensive gym and studio activity at $1,109 a year, yet $436 less than the annual cost to play golf.
• Recreational walking is Australia’s cheapest and most participated activity, representing the most accessible price points in the fitness landscape, with 50.2 percent of adults taking part but only 5.8 percent paying anything at all, at a mean of $210 per year.
The top 10 most expensive sports in Australia
| Rank | Activity | Participation rate | Average expenditure | Percentage who pay |
| 1 | Golf | 4.6% | $1,545 | 86.7% |
| 2 | Pilates | 7.2% | $1,109 | 67.7% |
| 3 | Fitness/Gym | 34.1% | $874 | 57.9% |
| 4 | Cycling | 8.3% | $596 | 20.3% |
| 5 | Yoga | 5.1% | $552 | 46.0% |
| 6 | Football/soccer | 5.6% | $540 | 48.7% |
| 7 | Bush walking | 17.5% | $535 | 14.9% |
| 8 | Running/jogging | 16.5% | $499 | 22.4% |
| 9 | Australian football | 2.4% | $424 | 50.3% |
| 10 | Cricket | 2.5% | $414 | 50.1% |
