Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
Facility Management
Rounds of golf for March remained relatively stable at a national level, with declines on the East Coast offset by West Coast gains driven by warm, dry weather.
This Age Cohort With the Most Golf Travelers Might Surprise
2026 is shaping up to be another record-setting year for golf travel. Among adult golfers, one age group is leading the way (by a slight margin), accounting for almost one-third of destination-motivated golf trips.
Travel’s Expanding Golf Economy Impact
Each of the past four years have seen record or near record levels of Americans hitting the road to play golf and 2026 is poised to reach a new high in golf travel. Golf trips, whether with friends, family, significant others, colleagues or clients, are a vital part of the industry because they concentrate spend, time and engagement in ways everyday play doesn’t. And this elevated demand is impacting U.S. supply.
20+ Million Golfers On-Deck
Interest in golf among non-golfers is close to record levels, even as the number of on-course participants has jumped by 20% over the past six years (with an even bigger increase in engagement among off-course formats). While maintaining high levels of attraction is important, converting that interest into sustainable participation is critical for the game’s future.
Topics: Associations, Course Operations, Facility Management, Green-Grass Facility, Off-course Facility
Examining Golf Engagement Further ‘Off-Course’
While not included in off-course participation measures, mini golf, VR golf and video games see notable growth
Outside the current definition of "off-course participation," a number of golf-related activities that engage participants away from the golf course continue to grow. And they expand the game's reach, reinforce awareness, and help serve as a gateway to participation with other forms of off-course golf and even traditional, green-grass play.
Assessing Golf’s Pricing Power – and Playing Fees
A deeper member look at golf's public pricing, including at the state level, the difference between municipal, daily fee and resort green fees, and the game's cost changes over the past six years.
The Truth About Golf’s Rising Green Fees
Following a decade of limited pricing power, peak green fees at public golf facilities in the U.S. have increased during the 'post-pandemic era." How closely do these increases mirror that of changes in inflation over that same period from 2019 to 2025?
National play sees second straight YOY monthly gain to start 2026
Golf is big business -- with a direct U.S. economic impact of almost $102 billion annually. NGF produced the most recent, and often-quoted U.S. Golf Economic Impact Study, and also conduct standard reports on golf's impact at the state level. These numbers are a part of many of our latest one-page state summaries that detail key supply and demand data at a more localized level -- now available to members.
Does this State Have the Fiercest Public Tee Time Competition?
Member update: State-level research and insights detail supply and demand from Florida to California
Where is the competition for public access golf the fiercest and why? This member sidebar details not only the number of golfers per public course, but which states have the highest proportion of private golf, which have the most golf-related real estate, and much more.
Golf’s Growth Era – The Road to 50 Million Golfers
There was a time not so long ago when the question was “Why doesn’t golf grow?” Today, the industry is experiencing a resurgence that would have been difficult to predict.
Member Participation Update: Record Momentum Continues
This member research complements NGF's annual Golf Participation in the U.S. Report, providing the latest data on golf participation — from changes in traditional green-grass participation to detailed information on key segments such as females, people of color and juniors. Also highlighted is the annual golfer "churn," the regular inflow and outflow within the game that impacts participation levels.
