Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
Assessing Golf’s Pricing Power – and Playing Fees
A deeper member look at golf's public pricing, including at the state level, the difference between municipal, daily fee and resort green fees, and the game's cost changes over the past six years.
National play sees second straight YOY monthly gain to start 2026
A Closer Look at Golf’s Run of Record Rounds
New member report and insight into play by age, segment, season and pre-Covid comps
Member graphics and a summary report offer a closer examination of the recent run of record-setting U.S. play, with looks at “post-Covid era” as well as pre-pandemic years, the total volume of rounds played by various geographic regions, includes play by segment, age cohorts and avidity, and takes a broad look at weather-related impacts.
NGF President & CEO Greg Nathan will deliver a must-see presentation entitled, “2026 State of the Golf Business – How Sustainable and Resilient is our Industry?” on the Main Stage at the Orange County Convention Center on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 9:30 a.m.
The golf simulator niche is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the golf industry, and the number of commercial golf simulator venues has proliferated in recent years. NGF continues to try to size and scope the explosive growth in the market.
Member Presentation: Understanding Golf’s Hidden Phone Costs
NGF research shows the majority of golf course operators are aware of the opportunity cost of 6 million phone hours, but only a small percentage have actually implemented technology solutions to minimize waste, with a fraction more exploring their options. This gap points to a competitive advantage opportunity for operators willing to act.
Midyear Update: Golf Supply and Development
The U.S. golf market continued its march toward equilibrium at the midway point of 2025, with supply and development patterns reinforcing trends that emerged in 2024 and previous years.
Topic: Facility Management
Rounds of golf for June -- one of the most high-volume months for play -- were virtually unchanged from a year ago, as the U.S. market remained within striking distance of the record-setting rounds pace of 2024.
Topic: Course Operations
Short Course Supply Update
Member update on Par 3 supply and development in the U.S.
Over the past 5 1/2 years, “short courses” – Par 3 courses, in particular -- have accounted for over one-third of new openings. While overall U.S. golf development remains relatively limited despite a recent uptick, this trend is more than just a blip on the radar.
Cooler, weather May weather in parts of the East coast contribute to a slight national dip in year-over-year play.
