Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
Buoyed in part by play at private clubs, rounds jumped in July and put 2025 almost on the same pace as last year's record-setting trajectory. It bears noting that July is traditionally the highest-volume month of the year when it comes to rounds-played.
Topics: Courses, Facilities, Golf, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities
NGF research shows many golf facilities are hemorrhaging resources on avoidable (and often trivial) phone calls, diverting staff from higher-value touch points and revenue-generating activities. Consider that two-thirds of golf course calls are about reservations and pricing, and only 40% of golfers are booking tee times exclusively or mostly online – compared to 80-90% for flights, hotels, and rental cars.
Topics: Course Management, Courses, Facilities, Facility Management, Facility Operations
Greg joins Syngenta's Changing the Business of Golf podcast to discuss the critical changes golf clubs and courses can make to boost customer retention and reposition the game as a more accessible, growth-oriented sport.
Topics: Conversion, Course Management, Courses, Facilities, Facility Operations
Greg Nathan, CEO of the National Golf Foundation, joins the Barstool Sports guys to break down the unprecedented growth of golf -- from skyrocketing participation and new player demographics to the evolution of how the game is played and experienced.
Topics: 18-34, 35-49, Beginners, Consumers, Courses
When it comes to indicators of golf’s sustained play levels -- at least nationally -- consider this: all 26 peak-season months dating back to 2020 have seen rounds trend at least 10% higher than recent pre-Covid comparisons. And based on mid-year play data, it’s quite possible 2025 could hit record levels yet again.
Topics: Course Management, Courses, Engagement, Facilities, Golf Courses
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.
Topics: Closings, Closures, Construction, Course Closures, Courses
The ‘Not Real’ Advantage
For decades, many short course operators have marketed themselves with a "championship-lite" promise to deliver all the hallmarks of the "real thing," but with the added benefits of speed and accessibility. While a sensible strategy for some, the pursuit of legitimacy through scaled-down emulation appears to have created a perception trap for many short courses.
Topics: Course Management, Course Owners, Courses, Development, Engagement
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.
Topics: Courses, Demand, Facilities, Facility Operations, General Interest
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.
Topics: Courses, Facility Supply, Golf Courses, Par 3, Par 3 Courses
The Price to Play
Examining the changes in public playing fees and the average 18-hole rate by state
When detailing the average price of public golf, it’s not uncommon to hear the refrain, “But that’s not it costs to play golf where I live.” And there’s a reality behind those assertions. Not only can peak weekend fees be substantially higher, but playing fees vary widely by geography as well as the type of public facility.
Topics: Cost Of Golf, Course Management, Courses, Facilities, Facilities Database
Facilities, Facility Health, Municipal Golf, Development, 9-Hole and Par 3
Concise and comprehensive one-page summary reports on various supply-related topics
Topics: 9-Hole Courses, Construction, Courses, Development, Facilities
A year after the third warmest February on record allowed many golf courses in northern states to get an early jump on the 2024 golf season, the more typical wintry weather conditions in those same states prevented a repeat.
Topics: Courses, Facility Operations, Golf Courses, Research, Rounds
