Special Reports
NGF’s reports and publications are free to members, providing data and intel to make better-informed decisions. Browse our catalog, from annual reports on participation and golf course supply to more focused reports on key golfer segments and business categories.
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Summary of Golf Participation in the U.S.
This one-page summary of consumer engagement in golf…
Golf Participation in the U.S.
The NGF has surveyed Americans regarding golf participation…
NGF Reads
10 Top Golf Course Openings for 2020
Around 200 golf courses were under construction worldwide in 2019. Here are 10 top layouts set to open this year that might have an impact on the $21 billion golf travel market.
NGF Research Snapshot: Family Golf
Almost two-thirds of golfers say they played a round of golf with a family member last year.
Nine New Golf Courses from 2019
While investment in the U.S. golf market is focused almost entirely on golf course renovations and restorations, a limited number of new courses are being built. Here’s a closer look at some layouts that debuted in 2019.
How A Montana Muni Created a Year-Round Draw
An obstacle turned into an opportunity for this Montana municipal course, which re-imagined its clubhouse to create year-round revenue and engage the local community.
Off-Course Golf: How Big Can It Get?
The number of off-course golf participants and off-course venues continues to grow, from golf entertainment facilities like Topgolf, Drive Shack and BigShots to commercial simulator locations popping up around the country. So, how big can the off-course golf market get?
Here’s Why the NFL’s Carolina Panthers Bought a Golf Course
The Carolina Panthers have an agreement to buy a public golf course near the new headquarters they’re planning in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The NFL team envisions the 1997 Hale Irwin design not as just a team amenity, but an opportunity to create stronger ties with the local community.
Saved From the Chopping Block
In an era when golf course closures far outweigh new openings – a market correction that’s the result of oversupply in the industry coupled with a strong demand for real estate — here’s a look at facilities that have escaped the chopping block. From the posh Wynn Golf Club on the Las Vegas Strip to a 9-hole layout in Nebraska that costs just $9 to walk on weekdays.
NGF Research Snapshot: Where Should We Play?
When you’re the one deciding where to play golf, how do you pick a course? This infographic mines NGF research to examine the decision-making process.
The Logistics of Lighting a Golf Course
Given the popularity of alternative night golf activities like Topgolf and the affordability of LED technology, the interest in lighted courses may continue to increase – particularly with smaller courses (9-hole, par-3, executive) or perhaps the final few holes of a traditional 18-hole layout. Learn more about the logistics behind it.
The Modern-Day Bobby Jones
Thanks to the efforts of a passionate group of citizens, the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta has been transformed from “an obsolete, dangerous golf course” into one with a revolutionary reversible layout, state of the art practice facilities, and programming designed to grow the game of golf.