Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
Media & Marketing
The Disproportionate Impact of Senior Golfers
More play, spend and engagement for 65+ golfers, except for one notable category
Senior golfers, those 65 and older, represent nearly 22% of the game’s traditional participant base but have a disproportionate impact on rounds played and spending. This member research update provides a high-level overview.
Topics: Associations, Course Operations, Equipment & Gear, Green-Grass Facility, Media & Marketing, Retail
‘Okay Boomer’
While there’s been a lot of understandable excitement around NGF’s reporting on golf’s youth movement, the other end of the age spectrum is seeing considerable participation momentum as well – a trend that is a byproduct of broader U.S. demographics.
Topics: Associations, Course Operations, Equipment & Gear, Events & Tourism, Green-Grass Facility, Instruction, Media & Marketing, Real Estate & Investment, Retail
Greg Nathan at Shinnecock: More People Playing Golf in More Ways Than Ever in American History
NGF's President & CEO takes stock of record participation, healthy course economics, and a new era for the Foundation, from the first fairway of the 126th U.S. Open.
Greg Nathan joined Golfdom's Seth Jones at Shinnecock Hills during the 126th U.S. Open, making the case that more people are playing golf in more ways than ever in American history, and that the industry's financial health is creating a virtuous cycle for the entire golf economy.
Greg Nathan Joins NGCOA’s Golf Business Live to Talk Supply, Demand, and Golf’s Vulnerable Underbelly
Record rounds. Healthy courses. So why does Greg still lose sleep over Player B?
If I had one thing to say to the audience of owners and operators, it's now, when the business is so terrific... it would really be the right time to invest in how do I deal with the intimidation of golf for novices, for kids, for women, and for people of color...
Topic: Media & Marketing
The Record Rise of Female Golf
Women and girls have outpaced their male counterparts and accounted for a greater share of growth when it comes to post-pandemic participation gains in recreational golf. The recent momentum has more than reversed the declines seen in the female participation ranks following the Great Recession.
Topics: Business Management, Course Operations, Equipment & Gear, Facility Management, Green-Grass Facility, Instruction, Media & Marketing, Off-course Facility, Retail
Female Participation & Engagement Report Now Available
See the highlights from the new member report
Women and girls have been major contributors to the recent participation surges within the recreational game, as the number of U.S. golfers continues to climb toward record territory.
Topics: Course Operations, Facility Management, Green-Grass Facility, Instruction, Media & Marketing, Off-course Facility, Specialized Services
The Upside and Uptick of Golf Leagues
Amid increases in U.S. golfers and rounds-played over the past six years, the number of people participating in leagues – whether run internally by golf facilities or externally by national organizations – has jumped dramatically. This engagement is outpacing broader on-course participation changes in the post-pandemic era.
NGF CEO Greg Nathan Shares The (Tremendous) State of the Golf Economy with Golf Channel’s Golf Today
Recreational golf is in a drop-the-mic moment.
"More people playing more golf in more ways than ever in recorded history."
Topic: Media & Marketing
Grateful for Golf
"Being in your dream job ... now that's gangster!"
Greg Nathan reflects with the United States Golf Association’s Golf Journal on his path from Madison Avenue to becoming CEO of the National Golf Foundation, golf's leading data insights and strategic consulting organization.
Topic: Media & Marketing
Fairways of Life: Greg Details Golf’s Participation Gains
Greg joins Matt Adams and Fairways of Life from the PGA Show floor to detail golf participation numbers in the United States. Spoiler: golf popularity is still on the rise after 2025.
Golf’s State-of-Industry In 3 Minutes
Momentum across the recreational side of the U.S. golf industry remained broadly positive in 2025. Indicators continue to point to sustainability in both participation and play amid a recalibrated, higher baseline for the game – perspective that’s highlighted in NGF’s annual Golf Industry Report.
Topics: Associations, Business Management, Course Operations, Facility Management, Facility Services, Green-Grass Facility, Media & Marketing, Off-course Facility, Retail, Specialized Services, Technology & Innovation
Talking State-of-Industry With NGCOA’s Golf Business Live
Greg Nathan joins Golf Business Live host Michael Williams for a conversation reflecting on the state of the golf business and economy in 2025, and a look ahead to the game's future.
Topics: Associations, Business Management, Course Operations, Facility Management, Media & Marketing
