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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 comprehensive library 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.
April 2020 National Rounds Played
With more than half of U.S. golf courses shut down for most of April, national rounds played were down 42% during the month compared to a year ago. On…
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Golfers and Social Distancing
Golf is a sport that by its nature is conducive to social distancing. However, as many Americans have begun to flout distancing guidelines, golfers are indicating an increased willingness to…
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Studying Golf Consumers: COVID-19
As of late May, the NGF’s ongoing consumer research indicates that the personal financial outlooks for golfers continue to improve, although spending habits remain largely unchanged amid the ongoing COVID-19…
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With 97% of Courses Open, What Remains Closed?
With 97% of golf courses now open for play, the natural follow-up question is: Who’s not? There are some noteworthy closures in major metropolitan areas, such as all 13 golf…
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Tracking Government Orders and Golf Course Status
When statewide stay-at-home orders rolled out the third week of March in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, golf course operations were affected nationwide. At one point…
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The Story Behind ‘The Photo’
Mike Erhmann is a golf nut. “I’m obsessed with it,” he says of the game, which he first played as a kid and then, like many others, gave up for…
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95% of U.S. Golf Courses Are Open
The NGF’s latest nationwide survey of U.S. golf facilities shows that 95% were open to play as of the week ending May 17, just a month after half the…
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Golf Is Open in All 50 States, But It’s Not Business as Usual
Golf courses are allowed to be open in all 50 states, but that doesn’t mean it’s back to “business as usual.” Operational rules and safety protocols vary from state to…
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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 facilities and businesses share our…
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‘No Snot Rockets’ Aside, Here’s What Seminole and Medalist Have In Common With an Alaskan 9-Holer
Golf exists in many ways and many places. One extreme is on display the next several weekends in sunny Southern Florida, where live competitive golf is back on TV for…
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..."
