The Graffis Report
A year of resurgence for the U.S. golf industry
The outlook coming into 2020 was already bullish – stabilization and evolution were the pervading macro trends, with on-course golfers hovering around 24 million for a sixth consecutive year, and off-course participation continuing to grow by double digits each year, thanks to the increasing popularity of golf entertainment venues, indoor simulators and other off-course outlets. This, alongside a deeper-than-ever pool of interested on-course prospects, gave reason for optimism in 2020.
The novel coronavirus pandemic presented both obstacles and opportunity, with spring shutdowns giving way to an unprecedented summer and fall in terms of rounds, golfer introductions and reintroductions, and robust consumer spending.
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2020 Industry Facts
Reports & Publications
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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June 2021 National Rounds Played Report
Rounds of golf for June 2021 were essentially equal to June of last year, when the industry began to see nationwide surges in play throughout the summer months. The…
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Equipment Sales Continue Run
Golf equipment sales: a mid-year update. The surge in equipment sales that began last May is showing no signs of letting up. Through June, YTD combined golf club and ball…
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Interview: Troon President & CEO Tim Schantz
Troon President and CEO Tim Schantz has more than 30 years experience specializing in corporate and real estate transactional matters, including the past 20+ years focused on the golf and…
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Golf: There’s An App for That
When the iOS App store opened in 2008 – less than a month after Tiger’s dramatic U.S. Open playoff win at Torrey Pines – 500 applications were available for Apple…
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Golf Apps Continue to Gain Adoption
With clubhouses and golf shops closed in some areas for an extended time in 2020, golfers embraced new approaches – whether it was reserving tee times, checking in or posting…
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May 2021 National Rounds Played Report
National rounds played for May 2021 were up an estimated 18% over a year ago, when golf operations were still limited due to the coronavirus in some parts of…
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May Rounds Climb as Summer Months Loom as Measuring Stick
May rounds were up 18.1% month-over-month, and are now up 33.6% year-to-date, according to the latest National Rounds Played report by Golf Datatech, produced in cooperation with the National Golf…
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Interview: Pinehurst Resort President Tom Pashley
Tom Pashley is in his 27th year at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, including the past seven as president at a property that’s affectionately known as the Cradle of…
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Game of a Lifetime?
You often hear golf referred to as the game of a lifetime. But is it? Unlike virtually every other sport, golf participation actually holds steady across the ages. See the…
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Women in Golf – Progress and Opportunity
June is Women’s Golf Month. Launched in 2005 by the PGA of America with the support of the LPGA and the NGCOA, it’s a month-long celebration and promotion of women…
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..."
