Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
The annual National Rounds Report provides a summary overview of play across the U.S. in 2024 — from national and state levels. This member report takes a look at rounds trends, with comparisons to pre-pandemic engagement and details about play levels based on age groups, participation segments, and avidity.
Golf continues to evolve. Those who’ve been around the game for a while know it changes rather glacially. 2024 continued a progressive and exciting era in our sport. The game’s traditions are still being honored. It’s ageless spirit and sense of community preserved. But the ways in which consumers are engaging with golf and consuming the game are growing and changing.
The NGF’s Top 100 Businesses in Golf is a platform intended to highlight the vitality, size and diversity of an industry that has more than a $100 billion annual impact within the U.S.
NGF’s State-of-Industry Report for 2024
NGF's Golf Industry Report, named in honor of NGF's founders Herb and Joe Graffis, compiles many of the game’s key data points on the business of golf and the health of the game in a single publication: golf participation, engagement, rounds-played, golf course supply and development, golf equipment sales, retail supply, the game’s reach, and more.
70M+ Americans Changed Their Views on Golf
Recreational golf has enjoyed a renaissance in the post-pandemic era – with increases in participation, play and engagement – and a key driver has been an increasingly positive narrative surrounding the game. Perceptions of golf and golf’s brand have shifted dramatically over the past decade or so, and social media has helped lead the charge.
Warm, dry weather leads to biggest YOY October jump in play since 2020
Warmer, drier weather extended the golf season in the Midwest and Northeast, leading to one of the largest year-over-year jumps in play in 2024
Approximately half of Core Golfers say golf gifting is a part of their holiday routine. And whether through a specialty golf retailer or a channel like Amazon, a growing percentage are buying golf-related items online.
With the influx of new golfers in the post-Covid era and the perceptions that the game is becoming younger and cooler, has the average age of a golfer changed much? NGF research shows that 71% of the post-pandemic rounds growth has come from golfers under the age of 50.
Golf isn’t a game of perfect. There’s always room for improvement. Better performance invariably leads to more play… and, in turn, more spend and a deeper connection. So, how many golfers are taking instruction? And what's the overall economic impact of the tens of millions of lessons on the industry at large?
Golf's Growing Instructional Landscape
A deeper dive into trends, behaviors and participation across segments in the $1.5B golf instruction category
Amid golf's increases in popularity, participation and play in recent years, how has instruction grown and evolved? This member deliverable examines the jump in the number of golfers taking instruction (and the number of lessons), and delves into engagement by ability, avidity, age, and participation segments.
Golf Instruction Overview
