Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports

Warm, dry weather leads to biggest YOY October jump in play since 2020
October 2024 National Rounds Played
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
Topics: Engagement, Facility Operations, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities
October 2024 National Rounds Played
Golf’s Multi-Billion Dollar Investment
Amid the uptick in golf construction (and understandable excitement about a few brand new courses), perhaps the most noteworthy sign of the health and vitality in U.S. golf supply is the considerable investment being made in existing facilities.
Topics: Facilities, Facility Supply, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities
Golf’s Multi-Billion Dollar Investment
Americans Still Playing More Golf
When looking at rounds-played momentum on the heels of the peak season, the only real question has been whether the weather will hold up. Hurricane season was a not-so-gentle reminder of the impact weather has on an outdoor sport like golf.
Topics: Facilities, Facility Operations, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities
Americans Still Playing More Golf
Rounds Played by Age Group
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golfers
Rounds Played by Age Group
How much did Hurricane season impact 2024's momentum?
September 2024 National Rounds Played
After general stability over the peak season months, September saw more fluctuation when it comes to year-over-year play. How did this impact the pursuit of another potential record-setting year for rounds in 2024?
Topics: Facilities, Facility Operations, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities
September 2024 National Rounds Played
A New Age in Golf?
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.
Topics: Age, Engagement, General Interest, Golfer Age Groups, Golfers
A New Age in Golf?
August rounds follow regional precipitation changes as summer play finishes strong
August 2024 National Rounds Played
August rounds were up in six of eight geographic regions, with all of those experiencing less precipitation than a year ago. Two regions on the East coast saw fewer rounds thanks to wetter weather than a year ago, but play at U.S. golf facilities overall remained steady through the end of the peak summer months. 
Topics: General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities, Management Company, Participation
August 2024 National Rounds Played
Golf's Never-Ending Quest
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?
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, Game Improvement, General Interest, Golf Lessons
Golf's Never-Ending Quest
Golf's Growing Instructional Landscape
A deeper dive into trends, behaviors and participation across segments in the $1.5B golf instruction category
Golf's Growing Instructional Landscape
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.
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, Game Improvement, General Interest, Golf Instruction
Golf's Growing Instructional Landscape
Golf Instruction Overview
Golf Instruction Overview
Topics: Engagement, General Interest, Golf Lessons, Golfers, Instruction
Golf Instruction Overview
Is Golf Real Estate Booming?
Is Golf Real Estate Booming?
Golf course living, in general, is enjoying a rebound like the game itself in the post-pandemic era. And golf-related real estate is a topic we’re asked about frequently and a subject our consulting team addresses regularly with developers and municipal planning boards or other authorities.
Topics: Construction, Development, Facilities, Facility Supply, General Interest
Is Golf Real Estate Booming?
The Surge's Impact on the Private Side of Golf
The Surge's Impact on the Private Side of Golf
Amid the recent increases in play and participation nationwide, what's happening on the private side of the game? This NGF member-exclusive examines supply and demand changes when it comes to private clubs, as well as the overindexing of private course development.
Topics: Development, Facilities, Facility Supply, General Interest, Golf Courses
The Surge's Impact on the Private Side of Golf

Learn from NGF Members

Golf as Life
Let me introduce myself—I’m Mike Klemme. You may not recognize my name, but if you’ve ever flipped through a golf magazine, visited a course, or…
Learn More
Ship Sticks
Whether you’re the head planner of your upcoming buddies golf trip or simply along for the ride, we’ve gathered a few easy ways to keep…
Learn More
Amanda Fontaine
Raking bunkers on a golf course was literally child’s play for Amanda Fontaine. Today, it’s part of her job as IGM’s Golf Course Superintendent at…
Learn More