3-Minute Business Insights
Coming into the year, only the most optimistic thought the industry could beat 2020 rounds. Here's how 2021 play shaped up.
October rounds-played almost matched the late-season surges seen in 2020, as total play remains up year-over-year.
What it is, Why it's important for golf, and How it works
Welcome2Golf is NGF’s effort to introduce adult non-golfers to the game of golf and improve the beginner experience to convert more newcomers into committed golfers. After all, almost 75% of the record 3 million+ beginners each of the past two years are 18 or older.
Golf has had a record number of beginners each of the past two years, with the vast majority of newcomers being adults. And yet, when one thinks of beginner golf programs, the tendency is to focus on junior initiatives. So where are all the adult-specific introductory efforts?
One of the overarching questions prompted by increased golf engagement over the past 18 months is whether the industry will be able to hold on those new golfers who have taken up the sport. But our research shows a notable difference between retention and conversion.
How 2021 Rounds Compare to 2020 Entering Q4
It's likely year-over-year play will continue to be down in the final months of the year, but it's important to keep these declines in proper perspective.
September 2021 rounds dipped after a 25% gain a year ago, as expected, but how much were they off the 2020 pace?
Amid nationwide surges in play, over a third of public golf courses have bumped up their peak season fees after years of lagging behind the inflation rate. Yet golf continues to shine as an affordable option compared to other activities that take a similar amount of time.
Can golf's current higher levels of demand be sustained? History suggests the answer is "Yes."
Among the developments in golf over the past year-and-a-half or so, the evolving narrative surrounding the game has been particularly interesting to follow. Especially when it comes to outlets that don't follow golf regularly. Perceptions of the game have also been improving.
August Rounds and Pre-Covid Comparisons
NGF Member Bulletin
Given the surge in rounds played in the second half of last year, our expectation has been that play this year in Q3 and Q4 would fall somewhere between 2020 and prior year averages. This was the case in July and now again in August.
August rounds were slightly down nationwide compared to last year’s summer surges, as expected. See how much of a decline there was from 2020.
