Rounds of golf for May 2025 were down slightly on a national level — just under 2% — compared to the same month a year ago.
There was a geographic split, with May play slightly up year-over-year in the four westernmost regions. Meanwhile, play was down in the four regions further east thanks in part due to generally wetter, cooler conditions. On the whole, 2025 rounds through May are lagging just over 1% behind last year’s record-setting pace.
In total for May, 17 states stretching from Vermont to Alabama had one of their top 10 wettest months in the 131-year record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In Pennsylvania, which had its second-wettest May ever, rounds dropped nearly 10% compared to a year ago, with similar declines in neighboring New York (-14%) and New Jersey (-8%). New York had its sixth-wettest May on record, and New Jersey had its fifth-wettest, coupled with temperatures slightly below average.
Across much of the northern New England region, rounds were down about 11% compared to May 2024.
Even parts of the Midwest saw play trajectory negatively impacted by weather. In Ohio, where average precipitation was well above average and average temperatures significantly below, YOY rounds dropped almost 13%.
NGF provides confidential, facility-level rounds data to Golf Datatech in helping compile the free, monthly play reports on behalf of the golf industry.
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