April rounds were up about 6% on a national level compared to a year ago, helping keep 2026 play ahead of 2025’s record-setting pace entering the peak months of the season.
Through the first four months of 2026, rounds played at U.S. courses are running just over 5% higher than the same period a year ago. That’s especially encouraging because April, on the cusp of the spring season in many parts of the country, can have significant year-to-year swings due to weather. (The normal monthly variation typically falls within a plus or minus 3% range)
The golf-rich East North Central (+13%) and Mid Atlantic (+12%) had the biggest regional gains in April, with the most noteworthy positive movement in states such as Indiana (+44%), Ohio (+23%), Pennsylvania (+16%) and New Jersey (+15%). Indiana and Ohio were both among 10 states that had their warmest April on record in the 132-year database maintained by the NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, while Pennsylvania and New Jersey were both top 6 all-time as all but four states nationwide had above-average temperatures for the month.
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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