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Midyear Momentum: Course Openings & Closures
Continued signs of equilibrium in world's best-supplied golf market
Over the past four years, the number of annual golf course closures has dropped 62%. So what does the market look like at the midway point of 2023? And how do course openings compare to recent years?
Midyear Update: U.S. and Worldwide Course Supply
Golf has remarkable geographic spread, with at least one course in 83% of countries and territories worldwide. In fact, there are more golf courses globally than Starbucks locations.
U.S. Golf Travel Momentum
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Play was up notably year-over-year on a national level in May, driven predominantly by increases in several golf-rich regions.
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April play was up nationally compared to a year ago thanks to more favorable golf weather in a number of golf-rich Northern states.
While rounds on a national level are relatively level year-over-year, there's been some significant swings based on geography... and weather.
With the first quarter of 2023 in the books, it appears the pandemic demand surge continues to hold. But the most critical months for rounds are ahead.
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Play on a national level was relatively stable for March 2023, a normalization for what's been one of the most inconsistent months for U.S. rounds in recent years.
There have been only two sustained periods of golf course supply contraction in the United States. They've ended in two very different ways.
Tracking "Resurrections" - Closed Courses Get New Life
New golf course openings in the U.S. remain limited, averaging about 13 over the past decade. But the number of “new-to-you” properties in the U.S. market is considerably higher when considering renovations, reconstructions and another category: “resurrections,” or closed courses given new life.
Despite significant weather-related swings in a number of golf-rich regions, February play was down only minimally compared to a year ago.
Which states have the most golf supply? Which have the most public courses? Which have the most golfers per public course and, generally, see stronger demand and tee time competition?
