Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
April play was up year-over-year, helping keep 2026 ahead of last year's record-setting pace for rounds heading into the peak months of the golf season.
Jodi Reilly has been promoted to Senior Manager of NGF's Consulting Services, recognizing her longstanding impact on the organization’s advisory work and her growing role in leading client-facing engagements across the golf industry.
Topics: Course Operations, Facility Management
Hollywood Beach GC Welcomes Public Back After Two-Year Restoration Project
For the National Golf Foundation’s consulting team, the recent reopening of Hollywood Beach Golf Club in South Florida represents the successful culmination of a years-long collaboration on the restoration of a century-old Golden Age public course – an extensive effort driven by city officials and supported by residents.
Amid increases in U.S. golfers and rounds-played over the past six years, the number of people participating in leagues – whether run internally by golf facilities or externally by national organizations – has jumped dramatically. This engagement is outpacing broader on-course participation changes in the post-pandemic era.
The Changing Face of Golf League Participation
Compared to pre-2020 (prior to the pandemic), golf league participants are notably younger and more diverse -- increasingly reflective of the broader population the industry has long sought to engage. This member sidebar delves into the demographic shifts of recreational golf league participation.
Record Rounds Again in 2025, with 2K Fewer Courses
The post-pandemic surge has proven more durable than some initially expected, with rounds of golf at U.S. courses climbing to yet another all-time high in 2025. It's a run that has similarities to the early 2000s "Tiger Boom," but is far from apples-to-apples comparison.
Topics: Course Operations, Facility Management
October rounds see slight national year-over-year decline as cooler, wetter weather slows strong play momentum in certain regions.
As the traditional game continues to modernize and evolve, mobile apps are an increasingly important part of the golf experience, on and off the course. More than three quarters of Core golfers say they use golf-specific apps, with the most notable recent increases in usage coming in several main areas.
