3-Minute Business Insights
With increases in golf participation, play and popularity in recent years, one of the questions we've gotten recently is whether there’s been a rise in new U.S. course construction since the onset of the pandemic.
Tracking New Golf Course Development
Among the U.S. golf courses in construction or in-planning, almost one-third of the projects are located in two states. But as history shows, not every project in golf's developmental pipeline opens for play.
Play in October still trended ahead of recent pre-pandemic years
Rounds of golf for October 2022 were relatively flat nationally compared to a year ago, with a slight change within the range of typical weather-related fluctuation.
Golf is in a better place than before the pandemic. But just how good? Here's what golf business leaders and facility operators told us.
New On-Ramps Help Boost Golf Participation
Proliferation of off-course golf is a factor in on-course growth
Looking broadly at the game’s evolution and its overall participant base, the total number of on- and off-course golfers in the U.S. has risen to record levels because of the emergence and continued growth of non-traditional forms of the game.
Play sees slight YOY dip after three months of summer increases
Rounds of golf for September 2022 were down almost 2% compared to the same period a year ago, the first year-over-year decline in national play over the past four months.
Hundreds of SW Florida courses were hit by storm surges
With over 1,000 golf courses in Florida and South Carolina impacted by the storm – some far more significantly than others – there’s bound to be a residual effect on play for at least a short window of time.
A summer resurgence showed 2022's slow start was attributable to poor golf weather rather than a softening in demand
“We were down significantly in April and not exactly sure what to expect... and then it came roaring back.”
The peak-season, summer months of June, July and August are disproportionately important for the golf industry -- a make-or-break period for most golf facilities. This summer, the industry climbed out of the hole that Mother Nature dug early in the year.
Strong summer pulls 2022 rounds totals closer to record 2021
August of 2022 yielded the third straight peak-season month of year-over-year play increases at U.S. golf courses.
