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We bring golf businesses together. Data sets them apart. Insight drives them forward.
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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.
Dig into trends impacting golf businesses.
As the industry’s leading independent and objective information resource, we provide our members with a wealth of golf research and insights on the game and business.
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.
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Just ask. We’ve learned a lot in our 80-year history and chances are we have insights that will help.
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Golf Industry Facts
Golf by State
Explore golf’s geographic footprint through our interactive map to learn how many courses and golf-related businesses are in each state.
Looking for a specific course or business? Search our database.
The only publication for interested in the business of golf.
Breaking News on Golf and the Coronavirus
Given its outdoor and wide-open nature that’s conducive to social distancing practices, golf has shown it can offer valuable physical and mental respite during an unprecedented crisis to participants of…
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May 2020 National Rounds Played
Rounds-played were up 6.2% nationally in May, with more than 90% of golf courses having reopened by the second week of the month. The rebound in May comes after…
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D.C. Municipal Golf: New Lease, New Life?
In a significant boost for public golf in Washington D.C., the National Links Trust (NLT) has been selected to negotiate a long-term lease for the three municipal facilities in the…
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20 Million Lost Rounds?
Golf was off to a good start in 2020. Unseasonably warm weather led to an early start for golf in parts of the country typically still in their offseason during January…
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Tracking the COVID-19 Effect on Rounds
Golf has been well-positioned throughout the pandemic as a healthy and safe outdoor activity, and because of this unique advantage there’s been a lot of curiosity of late about the…
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NGF New Members of the Month
The NGF extends a warm welcome to the newest members of its community, a diverse group that spans all sectors of the golf industry. These businesses share our common vision…
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New Course Opens in Coronavirus Era
For almost two decades, the Sheep Ranch was a relatively unknown golf course shrouded in mystery along the Oregon coast, among the most unconventional experiences in the game. It’s only…
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LumpCo Pop-Up Tour: A Minnesota Exemplar
At 6-foot-6 and about 280 pounds, Mark Haugejorde chuckles at the use of the word “nimble” to describe his efforts in making youth golf tournaments a successful reality amid the…
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The GIR Podcast – NGF’s Greg Nathan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=lwy1mXdpvIE&feature=emb_logo NGF Chief Business Officer Greg Nathan appeared on the recent GIR (Golf Industry Roundtable) podcast to discuss the history of the National Golf Foundation, which was founded in…
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Golfers Scratch the Itch to Play
As the coronavirus stretches into June, golfers are definitely scratching their itch to play. In a recent consumer survey, 86% of core golfers reported that they’ve teed it up in…
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..."
