Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
NGF's 2025 Golf Facilities in the U.S. Report - Now Available
Key year-end data on the world's best-supplied golf market
This comprehensive annual member report provides an in-depth overview of golf facility supply in the U.S. -- from historical trends in the number of golf facilities to detailed information on total supply by state and region, Top 10 lists by state supply, a facility health update, a breakdown of supply by facility type, golf courses in-planning and under construction, the latest on openings and closures, and much more.
Golf’s Course Correction Is Over
U.S. golf course development and investment in existing faciltiies are up, including an increased number of renovations, reconstructions, and resurrections. Meanwhile, the number of annual course closures has decreased for five straight years, with the 2024 total dipping to its lowest levels in two decades. The result is a supply stability that has legs.
Seasonal sluggish start to 2025
January is one of the lowest-volume months of the year when it comes to national play, with about two-thirds of the country still awaiting a true start to their golf season. Even colder temperatures to start 2025 than the prior year contributed to a sluggish start for rounds.
When a tee time goes unfilled, a golf course doesn’t just lose the greens fee – it loses all the revenue accompaniments that would have come with it. It’s why we dove deeper into the concept of RevPOTT, or the estimated total revenue per occupied tee time at public golf facilities.
The annual National Rounds Report provides a summary overview of play across the U.S. in 2024 — from national and state levels. This member report takes a look at rounds trends, with comparisons to pre-pandemic engagement and details about play levels based on age groups, participation segments, and avidity.
Final-month dip can't derail another record-setting year for rounds
Colder December weather in the Northeast and Midwest than a year ago wasn’t enough to derail another record-setting year for play on a national level. It’s the third time in four years that rounds of golf have hit record levels.
Golf continues to evolve. Those who’ve been around the game for a while know it changes rather glacially. 2024 continued a progressive and exciting era in our sport. The game’s traditions are still being honored. It’s ageless spirit and sense of community preserved. But the ways in which consumers are engaging with golf and consuming the game are growing and changing.
NGF’s State-of-Industry Report for 2024
NGF's Golf Industry Report, named in honor of NGF's founders Herb and Joe Graffis, compiles many of the game’s key data points on the business of golf and the health of the game in a single publication: golf participation, engagement, rounds-played, golf course supply and development, golf equipment sales, retail supply, the game’s reach, and more.
Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes
NGF's annual state-of-industry report is out and available for members, providing a holistic look at the U.S. golf industry for 2024. Momentum across the recreational side of the U.S. golf industry remained broadly positive this past year, and future indicators point to sustainability when it comes to participation and play.
Play gains in the Northeast and Southern U.S. provide late-season boost
A small year-over-year bump in national rounds during November virtually assures that 2024 will finish with another record-setting play total.
How Much is New Golf Course Development Up?
Three U.S. states are leading the way in new golf course construction projects
As participation and play enjoy well-chronicled jumps during golf’s post-pandemic renaissance, what is the impact on golf facility development? Here is a snapshot of the new golf projects NGF's database team is tracking entering 2025.
Warm, dry weather leads to biggest YOY October jump in play since 2020
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
