Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
Heightened demand, eagerness to hit the road again, and Canadian golfers return
After some understandable limitations on golf travel the past two years, particularly in 2020 after the initial coronavirus outbreak, indications are that golf travel in the U.S. is poised for a strong season.
NGF member benefit: one-page report on traveling golfers and golf resorts
Want to know how many traveling golfers there are in the U.S. or which state has the most golf resorts? Look no further.
March play can't match surges of early spring 2021
On a national level, March play was down fairly significantly compared to a year ago. Here's a quick look at where and why.
A Longer Look at Short Course Supply
While new Par 3 courses grab attention, has overall supply been increasing?
Short courses have accounted for over 1/4 of new course development over the past decade – a number of highly-visible examples at resort properties – despite accounting for 10% of overall supply.
"I find when all I do is return a phone call, they're shocked"
A record 6.2 million beginners have taken up golf in the U.S. over the past two years of the coronavirus pandemic. Overall participation has grown over that time, but not nearly to that extent.
NJ, NY and PA see increased play after Nor'Easter effect in Feb 2021
Buoyed by strong play totals in the South and parts of the Northeast, February 2022 rounds rose on a national level compared to the year prior.
"this legislative initiative is based, at least in part, on inaccurate information"
Municipal golf is under fire in California, misguidedly so. See the attached PDF for NGF's full response.
A new year brings new rounds-played data
On a national level, January '22 rounds didn't match the relatively strong starts seen the past two years, at least for regions in season.
"We thought we could never keep up with the fall of 2020”
Nationwide, play in 2021 increased by almost 6% over 2020. The biggest gains were seen in the spring given that during 2020 over half of U.S. golf courses were shut down for more than a month. But for the year, it was this category that really spurred rounds increases.
Annual Members-Only Report Summarizes U.S. Play
This summary report provides an overview of the record-setting 2021 play in the world's top golf market.
A Closer Look at Course Openings
A member-only dive into new facilities
In 2021, the number of new course openings in the U.S. was again limited. And yet these debuts, from Florida to Washington, hit their highest number since 2017.
Need to Know Numbers About Golf Course Closures
Member-Only Look at Ongoing Supply Correction
During the past two years of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. golf course market has experienced noteworthy changes. In 2021, course closure numbers reached a level not seen in over a decade.
