Golf season launched and new competition branding unveiled at the National Centre RUSSIA
The 3rd Forum of the Golf Association of Russia was held at the National Centre RUSSIA. The event traditionally marked the start of the new golf season in the country. Participants discussed infrastructure development, prospects for the introduction of new technologies and key trends shaping the sport in Russia.
"The history of golf in Russia began 35 years ago with the first initiatives to develop the sport. The industry received a significant boost in the early 2000s with the emergence of development projects featuring championship-level courses, and the 2008 crisis did not halt growth but, on the contrary, strengthened infrastructure. In 2016, a strategy for the development of golf in Russia was defined through a cluster model: championship courses began to be seen as centres of attraction for regions within a radius of 200–300 kilometres. On their basis, a system is being built — from mass participation through the 'School Golf' programme to the training of professional athletes," said President of the Golf Association of Russia Viktor Khristenko.
He noted that around 5,000 golfers are currently officially registered within the system, while the actual number of people involved in the sport is approximately 3.5 times higher, as many play without registration. This indicates significant potential for further growth and attracting new participants.
The forum also presented a new visual identity for national competitions, introduced by Executive Director of the Golf Association of Russia Marina Minina. She noted that the concept of the visual code will evolve alongside the sport and scale across the country, while moving away from strict traditionalism and preserving recognisable elements of golf. According to her, the visual code is sufficiently formal to match the status of a national federation, yet flexible enough to adapt to new formats — amateur leagues and tournaments, as well as international events.
In addition, the III Forum of the Golf Association of Russia included the awarding of diplomas to the first cohort of the EMBA programme "Management and Economics in the Golf Industry" of the Entrepreneurship School at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.
Golf in Russia is a young but rapidly developing sport. Each year, more than 180,000 people are introduced to it through sports and recreational events across the country. Russian athletes take part in more than 150 international competitions annually. At different stages of their careers, athletes from Russia have ranked in the top 50 of global amateur rankings. A notable achievement came at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where Maria Verchenova completed the course in 62 strokes, setting an Olympic record.
The Golf Association of Russia was founded in 1992. It is the only nationwide public organisation that develops and supports golf through the organisation of sporting events at international, federal and regional levels. The Association unites amateur and professional golfers across Russia, regulates the qualifications of coaches, athletes and other industry specialists.
The forum was organised by the Golf Association of Russia in partnership with the National Centre RUSSIA.
