Golf Industry Report

The latest information and insights on the business of golf can be found in the Golf Industry Report. For more information resources be sure to check NGF's Research Reports. Also check the NGF's online Publications Catalog, which contains over 150 publications that address your business information needs. And don't miss the NGF's News Releases page which gives top-line information from many NGF research reports.

Golf Industry Report - 4th Quarter 2007 (PDF: 1758 KB / 12 pages) GOLF CONSUMER ISSUE This issue contains a variety of profiles gleaned from NGF’s 2007 online survey of over 2,000 golfers, including: spending habits, buyer profiles, e-commerce, player development, introduction to golf, barriers to play and even the health of golfers from the standpoint of body mass index. Also included is a concise essay on "The Three Ways to Grow Rounds."

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Archived Issues of Golf Industry Report
	Golf Industry Report - 4th Quarter 2007 (PDF: 1758 KB / 12 pages)
	GOLF CONSUMER ISSUE This issue contains a variety of profiles gleaned from NGF’s 2007 online survey of over 2,000 golfers, including: spending habits, buyer profiles, e-commerce, player development, introduction to golf, barriers to play and even the health of golfers from the standpoint of body mass index. Also included is a concise essay on "The Three Ways to Grow Rounds."
	Golf Industry Report - 2nd Quarter 2007 (PDF: 2057 KB / 12 pages)
	GOLF PARTICIPATION ISSUE The 2006 golf participation numbers are contained in the second quarter issue. Also included are detailed profiles of Core golfers, a segment of frequent players who drive the industry in terms of rounds and spending. There are also sections on: Golfer segmentation by lifestyle; participation by geography; cross-participation by golfers in other sports and fitness activities; female golfers; and junior golfers. [Note: this issue will print in lower resolution than other issues of the newsletter due to file size requirements for the Web.]
	Golf Industry Report - 1st Quarter 2007 (PDF: 2261 KB / 12 pages)
	GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE Details about the openings and closings of golf courses in 2006 are presented in this issue. Included are new course profiles; a story on golf course renovations; tables showing facility supply and the cost of golf by state; a map showing the supply of golf courses by county; and a story on golf course elevations. The lead story shows how closures outpaced openings in 2006, resulting in net negative growth for the first time in six decades.
	Golf Industry Report - 4th Quarter 2006 (PDF: 843 KB / 12 pages)
	INDUSTRY OUTLOOK ISSUE This issue includes both short-term and long-term outlooks on the industry. For the short-term outlook we present the opinions of nearly 400 golf business and golf facility executives collected in an online survey. For the long-term view we provide an executive summary of A Strategic Perspective on the Future of Golf which is an update of NGF’s 1998 strategic plan.
	Golf Industry Report - 3rd Quarter 2006 (PDF: 814 KB / 12 pages)
	GOLF CONSUMER ISSUE Baby boomers are the main subject of this issue. Over the years NGF has kept a keen eye on baby boomers as they have moved through different life stages. Now, with the oldest of the baby boom generation turning 60 this year, their impact on rounds played and spending is about to be felt in big way. Baby boomer golfers are profiled in terms of their golf participation rates, intentions to play in retirement, real estate purchases, golf travel and golf media consumption.
	Golf Industry Report - 2nd Quarter 2006 (PDF: 935 KB / 12 pages)
	GOLF PARTICIPATION ISSUE This issue contains results of NGF’s 2005 golf participation study, including a detailed look at Core golfer participation and profiles of the game’s most frequent players. Other stories include: Beginner participation; driving range participation; and an anniversary section to celebrate NGF’s 70th year in business.
	Golf Industry Report - 1st Quarter 2006 (part 1) (PDF: 1,211 KB / 6 pages) Golf Industry Report - 1st Quarter 2006 (part 2) (PDF: 1,727 KB / 6 pages)
	GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE The golf course development "scorecard" is presented in this issue. Included are tallies of new course openings, closures, courses under construction, in planning, etc. We profile three facilities that opened in 2005 -- in California, Colorado and Illinois. The cost of golf is detailed in a table showing median green fees by each of the nation's 210 designated market areas. With the help of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, we take a look at renovation master planning. The issue also includes a look at what happened to golf facilities in the path of Hurricane Katrina.
	Golf Industry Report - 4th Quarter 2005 (PDF: 819 KB / 12 pages)
	INDUSTRY OUTLOOK ISSUE For this issue, we surveyed over 400 golf business executives regarding their outlook for the golf economy in 2006. Perceptions of golf course operators and golf business managers are separated to show the full spectrum of opinions. In addition to the overall consensus, there are personal statements from these industry leaders: Mark King, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company; Jim Kahn, The Golf Digest Companies; Gary Schaal, Cannon Ridge Golf Club; Jim Connor, FootJoy; and Jim Thompson, Golfsmith International.
	Golf Industry Report - 3rd Quarter 2005 (PDF: 225 KB / 12 pages)
	GOLF CONSUMER ISSUE The lead story of this issue takes an in-depth look at customer satisfaction research, showing that there may be only one question you need to ask your customers in order to grow your business. Other articles focus on the golf consumer and, in particular, the implications of golfer attitudes and perceptions for golf course operations. Topics include golf course trade areas, golf travelers, Internet usage and golf instruction.
	Golf Industry Report - 2nd Quarter 2005 (PDF: 176 KB / 12 pages)
	GOLF PARTICIPATION ISSUE This issue contains a detailed look at Core golfer participation, including trends since 1990 and profiles of golf’s most frequent players. Other key stories include Baby Boomers and their potential impact on the future of golf; female golf participation; junior golf participation; high-income golfer participation; and non-golfer interest in playing golf.
	Golf Industry Report - 1st Quarter 2005 (PDF: 470 KB / 12 pages)
	GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE It contains a summary of golf course development – openings, under construction, in planning – for 2004 as well as the 2005 forecast. Includes articles on real estate-related golf course development; reaction of builders and architects to development slow-down; golf course supply by state; cost of public golf by state; golf course renovation; and golf course closures.
	Golf Industry Report - 2nd Quarter 2004 (PDF: 147 KB / 8 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Core Golfers Gain Ground in 2003 Although NGF studies and reports on total golf participants, we continue to focus on Core golfers because their numbers are more stable over time and they represent the majority of rounds and spending.
	Golf Industry Report - 1st Quarter 2004 (PDF: 167 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: GOLF 20/20 RECAP Optimism and commitment signaled a sense of progress and moving the game into the 21st century at the fourth annual GOLF 20/20: Vision for the Future conference.
	Golf Industry Report - 4th Quarter 2003 (PDF: 159 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Economic Recovery and the Golf Industry Overall, the U.S. economy has been in a state of flux. So, how have recent macroeconomic trends affected the golf industry? To answer the question, we took a look at four industry segments: golf course development and operations, golf equipment manufacturing and retail.
	Golf Industry Report - 3rd Quarter 2003 (PDF: 297 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: GOLF 20/20 Releases 2003 Industry Report In 2002, the World Golf Foundation, through its GOLF 20/20 initiative, published its first Industry Report, which reviewed the state of the golf industry in the United States, in 2001. It marked the first time that information had been gathered from a variety of sources and presented together in an effort to identify meaningful trends, opportunities and areas of concern, and to present the information in a manner that will help guide future growth efforts.
	Golf Industry Report - 2nd Quarter 2003 (PDF: 494 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Rounds Down, Revenue Flat in 2002 According to a new NGF research study, total rounds played at U.S. golf dropped 3.0 percent in 2002 compared to 2001, while revenues were relatively flat, increasing by only 0.9 percent.
	Golf Industry Report - 1st Quarter 2003 (PDF: 270 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: GOLF 20/20 Turns Discovey into Action The third annual GOLF 20/20: Vision for the Future conference signaled a shift into the action phase this year with a focus on aligning the golf industry behind programs that impact the growth of interest and participation in golf.
	Golf Industry Report - 2nd Quarter 2002 (PDF: 519 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: IRS Tees Up New Depreciation Ruling, ‘Catch Up’ Allowed for 2001 For players, getting relief on the golf course usually means improving their lie. For course owners, relief now means lower taxes. A recent IRS ruling finally concurs with the industry that course owners may claim depreciation deductions for certain costs of building greens that are constructed with an integrated drainage system.
	Golf Industry Report - 1st Quarter 2002 (PDF: 204 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Second GOLF 20/20 Conference Enjoys Sharper Focus After a year of testing and research, GOLF 20/20: Vision for the Future, the industry-wide collaboration to grow had significant findings and progress to report. "Last year we wanted to get your attention, this year we wanted to get to work", said Ruffin Beckwith, senior vice president of the World Golf Foundation and Director of GOLF 20/20.
	Golf Industry Report - 4th Quarter 2001 (PDF: 145 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Course Construction Activity Declines in 2001 Following a steady increase in golf course development throughout the 1990s and in 2000, the industry has begun to see a slowdown in course construction, according to National Golf Foundation data. During the first quarter of this year, 24 new courses opened this year, compared to 57 during the first quarter of 2000.

Archived issues of Golf Facility Report
	Golf Facility Report - 2nd Quarter 2004 (PDF: 378 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Core Golfers Gain Ground in 2003 Although NGF studies and reports on total golf participants, we continue to focus on Core golfers because their numbers are more stable over time and they represent the majority of rounds and spending.
	Golf Facility Report - 1st Quarter 2004 (PDF: 142 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: GOLF 20/20 Recap Optimism and commitment signaled a sense of progress and moving the game into the 21st century at the fourth annual GOLF 20/20: Vision for the Future conference.
	Golf Facility Report - 4th Quarter 2003 (PDF: 112 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Minorities in the "Majority" Recognizing that minorities and women are important segments in its goal of reaching 55 million golf participants by the year 2020, the First Tee commissioned a minority golf participation study.
	Golf Facility Report - 3rd Quarter 2003 (PDF: 447 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: 10 Best Beverage Management Practices Beer, wine and spirit sales constitute a large percentage of revenues at golf facilities, often as high as 30-40 percent of total food and beverage sales annually. At a course that generates $500,000 in food and beverage income, this could amount to $200,000.
	Golf Facility Report - 2nd Quarter 2003 (PDF: 447 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Rounds Down, Revenue Flat in 2002 According to a new NGF research study, total rounds played at U.S. golf dropped 3.0 percent in 2002 compared to 2001, while revenues were relatively flat, increasing by only 0.9 percent.
	Golf Facility Report - 1st Quarter 2003 (PDF: 255 KB / 12 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: The Rising Cost of Property Insurance and What You Can do to Prepare The insurance industry, much like oil prices and the stock market, is cyclical. For the past seven years that cycle has favored the buyer. Insurance carriers have been fighting for business by offering very broad coverage below sound statistical pricing.

Archived issues of Golf Market Today
	November/December 2000 Volume 40, No. 6 (PDF: 449 KB / 20 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Fees up 3%, Equipment Down Slightly for 1999 Golf Spending
	September/October 2000 Volume 40, No. 5 (PDF: 618 KB / 20 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Golf Equipment Pricing: Manufacturing Costs Shift with Changing Technology and Materials
	July/August 2000 Volume 40, No. 4 (PDF: 707 KB / 20 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Trend Report Looks at 14 Years of Golf
	May/June 2000 Volume 40, No. 3 (PDF: 1,016 KB / 20 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: Record Rounds Played in 1999
	March/April 2000 Volume 40, No. 2 (PDF: 1,665 KB / 20 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: New Course Openings Break 500 in 1999
	January/February 2000 Volume 40, No. 1 (PDF: 1,054 KB / 24 pages)
	FEATURED ARTICLE: New NGF Study Profiles Patrons, Player Development Potential of Golf Ranges

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