Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports

The Growth of Destination Golf
A closer look at one of golf's biggest development categories
The Growth of Destination Golf
Whether its golf destinations, destination golf resorts or destination golf in general, this niche continues to grow in popularity – on both the public and private side.
The Growth of Destination Golf
Golf Course Supply: No Boom, But Better
Golf Course Supply: No Boom, But Better
When it comes to traditional, new golf courses, what’s being built today is different than during the development boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Here's how.
Golf Course Supply: No Boom, But Better
Course Openings by State (P5Y)
Course Openings by State (P5Y)
Course Openings by State (P5Y)
Course Closures as Percentage of Total Supply
Course Closures as Percentage of Total Supply
Course Closures as Percentage of Total Supply
Midyear Momentum: Course Openings & Closures
Continued signs of equilibrium in world's best-supplied golf market
Midyear Momentum: Course Openings & Closures
Over the past four years, the number of annual golf course closures has dropped 62%. So what does the market look like at the midway point of 2023? And how do course openings compare to recent years?
Midyear Momentum: Course Openings & Closures
Midyear Update: U.S. and Worldwide Course Supply
Midyear Update: U.S. and Worldwide Course Supply
Golf has remarkable geographic spread, with at least one course in 83% of countries and territories worldwide. In fact, there are more golf courses globally than Starbucks locations.
Midyear Update: U.S. and Worldwide Course Supply
Golf Course Supply: The Long View
Golf Course Supply: The Long View
There have been only two sustained periods of golf course supply contraction in the United States. They've ended in two very different ways.
Golf Course Supply: The Long View
New Course Development
New Course Development
New Course Development
Update: State Supply Standouts
Update: State Supply Standouts
Which states have the most golf supply? Which have the most public courses? Which have the most golfers per public course and, generally, see stronger demand and tee time competition?
Update: State Supply Standouts
State-by-State Golf Reports Available
One-page state level overviews on supply and demand, rounds played and more
State-by-State Golf Reports Available
NGF Member Exclusive: state-level snapshots of golfers, golf courses, rounds played, price point, facility types and the estimated economic impact of the golf business.
State-by-State Golf Reports Available
Is New Course Construction Picking Up?
Is New Course Construction Picking Up?
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.
Is New Course Construction Picking Up?
Tracking New Golf Course Development
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.
Tracking New Golf Course Development

Learn from NGF Members

Golf as Life
Let me introduce myself—I’m Mike Klemme. You may not recognize my name, but if you’ve ever flipped through a golf magazine, visited a course, or…
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Ship Sticks
Whether you’re the head planner of your upcoming buddies golf trip or simply along for the ride, we’ve gathered a few easy ways to keep…
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Amanda Fontaine
Raking bunkers on a golf course was literally child’s play for Amanda Fontaine. Today, it’s part of her job as IGM’s Golf Course Superintendent at…
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