Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
The pandemic era uptick in golf popularity and play has meant some property owners and visionaries are actively building golf courses – much more so than a decade ago or so. This development looks quite different than it did during the boom era of golf course construction, however.
The Growth of Destination Golf
A closer look at one of golf's biggest development categories
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.
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.
Course Openings by State (P5Y)
Course Closures as Percentage of Total Supply
Midyear Momentum: Course Openings & Closures
Continued signs of equilibrium in world's best-supplied golf market
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 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.
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.
New Course Development
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?
State-by-State Golf Reports Available
One-page state level overviews on supply and demand, rounds played and more
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.
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.
