Rounds of golf in August were down just over 5% on a national level, the second straight year-over-year dip during a peak season month.
With four months to account for in 2026, rounds played are still pacing 1% ahead of last year’s record-setting totals.
June, July and August are among the most high-volume months of the year for play, and August’s YOY decline follows July’s -3.6% dip.
Elevated precipitation contributed to some of the most noteworthy regional changes in August, notably a 9% drop in the East North Central, where rain levels were up over 100% in golf-rich states like Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin, and a 7% YOY drop in the Mid Atlantic, where precipitation in New York, New Jersey and Pennyslvania was up 167%.
Seven of the eight regions saw YOY play declines in August, including five of more than 3%.
NGF provides confidential, facility-level rounds data to Circana’s Golf Datatech in helping compile the free, monthly play reports on behalf of the golf industry.
Click the image below to see the full report.
Click image for a full 3-page PDF of August 2026 rounds report
For an archive of rounds played data — or to learn more about how you or your facility can contribute to our vital research on behalf of the industry — click here.
