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2020 Industry Facts
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The NGF’s reports and publications are free to members, providing information and intel to make better-informed decisions. Browse our catalog, from annual reports on participation and golf course supply to more focused reports on key golfer segments and business categories.
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Our unique Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from various sectors of the industry, a diversity that brings broad perspective to our work.
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David Abeles
President & CEO
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Joe Beditz
President & CEO
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Bradley A. Hamilton
Group VP, Commercial & International
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Mike McCarley
President
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Tim Schantz
President & CEO
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John K. Solheim
President
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Annika Sorenstam
President & CEO
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Dick Sullivan
President & CEO
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Joe Assell
CEO & President
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Anne Broholm
Chief Executive Officer
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The only publication for interested in the business of golf.
September 2021 National Rounds Played
Rounds played for September were down 8% nationwide compared to 2020, but continue to trend ahead of recent non-pandemic years. Although play in recent months has trailed the torrid…
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Santa Is On the First Tee
Demand for all things golf – including equipment, apparel and accessories — is projected to remain strong this holiday season, even as manufacturers and retailers wrestle with production, inventory and…
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Rethinking the Retention Question
As golf’s pandemic-fueled high tide reaches its 18th month in the U.S., we continue to field questions about the mid- and longer-term sustainability of more players and higher engagement, which…
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October 2021 National Rounds Played Report
October rounds-played almost matched the late-season surges seen in 2020, finishing just 1.8% shy of the trajectory from a year ago. October 2020 rounds had been up 32% over the…
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November 2021 National Rounds Played Report
November saw the most significant year-over-year decline in nationwide rounds-played, in large part because of colder weather in well-supplied northern parts of the country than a year ago. In…
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New Normal or Old Normal?
The question continues to be asked whether the current higher levels of demand, seemingly for all things golf, can be sustained. If you believe in history repeating itself, the answer…
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Looking Back at 2021… Looking Forward to 2022
Hey, Ted (aka Hollywood) here. So, I snuck into Joe’s office and commandeered his bi-weekly message from NGF for this week. First… CONGRATULATIONS! You did it. You didn’t just get through…
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Golf Course Operators Regain Some Pricing Power
With golfers turning, and returning, to the golf course in greater numbers over the past year-and-a-half, this increased demand has given some pricing power back to operators – at least…
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Amid Beginner Influx, Where Are the Introductory Golf Programs for Adults?
Consider this. There were 3 million beginning golfers in the U.S. in 2020 – a record high – and the number of newcomers will top that total this year. Also…
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2021 Rounds to Top 2020 Play Surges
Last year was a banner year for rounds-played, despite virus-related spring shutdowns that affected half the nation’s courses. This year will be even better. While ‘official’ year-end data won’t be…
Read MoreThe most reliable source for golf industry information.
The NGF’s proprietary data and research is regularly cited by national news organizations in stories that highlight the health and vitality of the golf industry. See the latest buzz:
"Following the recent report that the golf industry drove $84.1 billion in economic activity in the United States in 2016, an increase of 22.1 percent since 2011, the National Golf Foundation offered more modestly encouraging numbers about the health of the game with Tuesday’s release of its annual Golf Industry Report..."
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"The National Golf Foundation's latest list of the Top 100 businesses in golf... is a deep dive into a diverse group of leading companies, organizations and associations that span a multitude of verticals within the $84 billion golf industry."
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"...According to a report from the National Golf Foundation, roughly 51% of Topgolf guests in 2017 were people who had never played traditional golf.
Of these non-golfers, 75% said they were interested in playing traditional golf after visiting a Topgolf location..."
