Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
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
Does Golf Have a Capacity Problem?
More golfers have played more rounds over the past several years and this means U.S. golf courses – broadly speaking — are busier than ever. So what are operators and golfers saying about current capacity, whether it's being able to run a facility efficiently given the manpower and course conditioning, or getting tee times at crowded public courses on the weekend?
Topics: Capacity, Facilities, Facility Supply, General Interest, Golf Courses
Slight peak season dip in play driven by hotter temperatures in parts of southern U.S.
Record or near-record high July temperatures in a number of golf-rich states, including Florida and California, helped keep national play levels below 2023 pace -- at least for the month.
Topics: Facilities, Facility Operations, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities
Asking what an "average golfer" typically shoots isn't as straightforward a question as it might seem. The golfer-reported average -- among those who keep score -- hasn't changed very much in years. But if you account for some important caveats, the actual average likely skews upwards.
Topics: Average Score, General Interest, Golfers, Participation, Research
9-hole community course has sand greens and is free to play
Thanks to the support of locals, golf is back as a recreational amenity for this tiny town in rural North Dakota, with a free-to-play Par 3 course that has some of the most unusual greens in the golf world.
Topics: Development, Engagement, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities
Topics: Facilities, General Interest, Golf Courses, Sand Greens
The U.S. golf industry is now in its 50th month since pandemic-related restrictions on golf were lifted in 2020. And the numbers continue to reinforce that we're enjoying a "new normal" when it comes to play.
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, Facility Operations, General Interest, Golf Courses
Peak season month sees moderate increase, with biggest gains in the Northeast U.S.
June play momentum remains strong on nationwide level as rounds continue to run ahead of 2023's pace.
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, Facility Operations, General Interest, Golf Facilities
There are hundreds of new golf courses in varying stages of development around the world, with over half of those in the pipeline within the U.S. So, which other countries are especially active in the world of golf course construction?
Topics: Closures, Construction, Development, Facilities, Facility Supply
Contextualizing 2024's Course Closures
Taking a closer look at mid-year supply changes - stocks & flows
New course development is up fairly significantly, but midyear course closures continue to outpace openings. Here is some added context on the "why" behind inevitable course shutdowns in the U.S. market.
Topics: Closures, Course Closures, Facilities, Facility Supply, General Interest
Understanding Golf's Biggest Failure (or Opportunity)
The past four years have been historically strong for the U.S. golf industry, with a net gain of more than 2.3 million on-course golfers since 2020. But what if we told you almost 10 times as many people turned or returned to golf over that time?
Topics: Beginners, Churn, Engagement, General Interest, Golfers
How to Plug Golf's "Leaky Bucket"
Key learnings on the golfer journey from Introduction to Commitment
When tracking the beginner to Committed golfer pathway, many of the things that predict successful “conversion” are relatively low incidence. Why is this?
Topics: Beginners, Conversion, Engagement, General Interest, Golfers
