Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports

A new year brings new rounds-played data
January 2022 National Rounds Played Report
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.
Topics: Engagement, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities, Participation, Rounds Played
January 2022 National Rounds Played Report
"We thought we could never keep up with the fall of 2020”
This Category Drove 2021's Gains in Rounds Played
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.
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, Golf Courses, Golfers, Participation
This Category Drove 2021's Gains in Rounds Played
Inertia - Where is it taking golf?
Rounds of golf in 2020 were almost unthinkably high – the industry erased 20 years of decline in about six months. Naturally, we all wondered how 2021 would go. Would demand maintain, or regress as people presumably fell back into old routines? Emphatically, it was the former.
Topics: Facilities, Golf Courses, Golfers, Participation, Research
Inertia - Where is it taking golf?
Annual Members-Only Report Summarizes U.S. Play
Rounds Played Report for 2021 Now Available
This summary report provides an overview of the record-setting 2021 play in the world's top golf market.
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, Golf Courses, Golfers, Participation
Rounds Played Report for 2021 Now Available
Buttoning Up Play in 2021
December 2021 National Rounds Played Report
Play in 2021 finished ahead of 2020 after yet another positive year-over-year gain for December. See how many more rounds that translated to.
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, Facility Operations, Golf Courses, Golfers
December 2021 National Rounds Played Report
2021 Play Looks to Finish on December Upswing
NGF member-only rounds analysis
2021 Play Looks to Finish on December Upswing
What do early returns on December's nationwide play show after the final month of 2020 had a 37% jump?
Topics: Facility Operations, Golf Courses, Research, Rounds Played
2021 Play Looks to Finish on December Upswing
November 2021 National Rounds Played Report
Topics: Facilities, Facility Operations, Golf Courses, Golfers, Participation
November 2021 National Rounds Played Report
We Did It... We Will Beat Last Year's Rounds
Coming into the year, only the most optimistic thought the industry could beat 2020 rounds. Here's how 2021 play shaped up.
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, Facility Operations, Golf Facilities, Participation
We Did It... We Will Beat Last Year's Rounds
October 2021 National Rounds Played Report
October rounds-played almost matched the late-season surges seen in 2020, as total play remains up year-over-year.
Topics: Facilities, Golf Courses, Participation, Rounds Played
October 2021 National Rounds Played Report
How 2021 Rounds Compare to 2020 Entering Q4
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.
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, Facility Operations, Golf Courses, Golfers
How 2021 Rounds Compare to 2020 Entering Q4
September 2021 National Rounds Played Report
September 2021 rounds dipped after a 25% gain a year ago, as expected, but how much were they off the 2020 pace?
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, Facility Operations, Golf Courses, Participation
September 2021 National Rounds Played Report
August Rounds and Pre-Covid Comparisons
NGF Member Bulletin
August Rounds and Pre-Covid Comparisons
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.
Topics: Facilities, Facility Operations, Golf Courses, Participation, Research
August Rounds and Pre-Covid Comparisons

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