Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
Like other aspects of golf, mini golf is evolving – with new forms and concepts
As new golf entertainment versions of mini golf crop up, with investment from prominent names like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, it leads to inevitable questions about the impact these kinds of 'golf' experiences might have on interest in playing on a real golf course.
Almost 1-in-9 Americans are active golfers, whether that’s playing on a golf course, hitting balls at a driving range, or swinging and socializing at golf entertainment venues. More people played golf in some form last year than participated in basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer or skiing.
The latest monthly rounds played report it out and shows a 10% decline in play year-to-date. Is it a sign that golf’s pandemic dividend is eroding?
Cooler, wetter weather takes toll in several key regions
April play follows March's trajectory, with the third year-over-year decline through the first four months of 2022.
March play can't match surges of early spring 2021
On a national level, March play was down fairly significantly compared to a year ago. Here's a quick look at where and why.
"I find when all I do is return a phone call, they're shocked"
A record 6.2 million beginners have taken up golf in the U.S. over the past two years of the coronavirus pandemic. Overall participation has grown over that time, but not nearly to that extent.
Over the past two years, as the coronavirus pandemic has gripped the U.S., the number of beginning golfers has been higher than it was back when Tiger Woods was at his most dominant.
NJ, NY and PA see increased play after Nor'Easter effect in Feb 2021
Buoyed by strong play totals in the South and parts of the Northeast, February 2022 rounds rose on a national level compared to the year prior.
A few high-profile fights for the preservation of municipal golf courses have led some to believe that Muni golf is facing an existential threat. It isn’t. Well, at least in 49 out of 50 states it isn’t.
A new year brings new rounds-played data
On a national level, January '22 rounds didn't match the relatively strong starts seen the past two years, at least for regions in season.
"We thought we could never keep up with the fall of 2020”
Nationwide, play in 2021 increased by almost 6% over 2020. The biggest gains were seen in the spring given that during 2020 over half of U.S. golf courses were shut down for more than a month. But for the year, it was this category that really spurred rounds increases.
