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Early April is the time of year when millions of Americans — golfers and non-golfers alike — focus on golf more intently.
The Masters Tournament, golf's first major championship of the year, is synonymous with spring and the true start of the golf season, especially in northern parts of the country where courses (and golfers) are ramping up to full operational status. Golf companies, meanwhile, seize on the excitement the Masters creates among consumers by launching new equipment, apparel and accessories.
For our latest industry message about taking the pulse of the golf consumer, we looked broadly at the game's …
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Despite rising inflation, labor challenges, supply chain issues and the threat of an impending economic recession, golf business leaders are more optimistic about growth potential for their companies and organizations in the coming year than CEOs overall.
According to NGF’s recent executive sentiment survey conducted in October 2022, 43% of golf industry leaders categorized their expectation for growth as “strong” or “very strong.” This compares to 34% of CEOs overall in recent Deloitte executive survey, a proportion that’s dropped from 67% a year ago.
Overall, 93% of golf business leaders indicate they anticipate at least modest growth over the next 12 months.
“We’…
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As the unofficial kickoff for the golf season, Masters Tournament week is an ideal time to take (and report on) the pulse of the golf consumer. More than 123 million Americans consumed golf in some fashion in 2023, a reach that’s up significantly in recent years.
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Municipal golf is not facing an existential threat. In fact, it surprises some to learn that the number of municipal courses nationwide has actually increased over the last decade. This gain stands in contrast to broader U.S. supply reductions and the challenges ‘muni golf’ encounters in some areas.
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Over the past decade, there’s been a net gain of approximately 100 municipal golf facilities in the U.S.
And, as detailed in this Fortnight piece, municipal supply has increased by 5% during the current market correction that dates to 2006. During that 18-year stretch in which annual course closures have exceeded new openings, the number of daily fee public courses – from resorts to mom-and-pop operations – has declined by 17%.
There are three primary reasons for the supply increase in the municipal golf space, with conversions leading the way (by a significant margin) over new openings and “resurrections.”
While more than 150 municipal …
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Annual summary report of golf participation in the U.S., including various segments.
Read MoreWelcome to the President’s Page Personal Perspective from NGF President & CEO Greg Nathan Click […]
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As 2023 draws to a close, it’s a fitting time to look back, look ahead, and examine the appetite for green-grass golf.
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When it comes to the future sustainability of rounds, we recently surveyed Core golfers on their intent to play and – as detailed in this Fortnight message – most say they plan to play just as much or even more in 2024.
But we also examined two other important predictive measures:
How “into” golf they are
What their “itch” to play is
What may be surprising to some is that interest in golf appears to be strongest among one of the game’s youngest generations – the 18- to 34-year-old age cohort.
These young adults reported the highest itch to play green-grass golf among …
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More than half of Core golfers (those who play 8+ rounds annually) say they typically get golf-related gifts for the holidays, whether for themselves or others.
It’s likely not surprising that golf balls – the game’s ultimate consumable – and apparel sit atop the list of intended golf gifts. Almost two-thirds of golf-gifters are opting for either ammunition to play, new clothes to wear on and off the course, or both.
What’s down slightly this holiday season is intent to purchase, and this extends across the board in our pulse survey of Core golfers. This falls in line with broader …
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