2012 U.S. rounds figures show recovery

By |  May 25, 2012

Based on data released last week by the National Golf Foundation (NGF), things are looking up for U.S. golf in 2012, and not just because of the mild weather across the country.

Whereas 2011 saw a 2.5 percent decline in rounds, 2012 already has experienced double-digit rounds growth, And, says NGF, recent research indicates the rebound is also “economically (and psychologically) driven.”

Year-to-date, rounds played are up by 22 percent, or 12.7 million, the NGF says, and even if the rest of the year were flat, 2012 would show a 2.7 percent increase over 2011.

According to the foundation, there’s an “encouraging trend emerging” in the intentions of core golfers to play more rounds. “There has been significant decrease in the number of golfers who have told us that they are playing fewer rounds due to the economy,” stated the foundation. “This figure is currently at 16 percent, which is lower than at any other point since we started measuring in Q1 of 2008.”

Rounds played are reported monthly by more than 3,500 course operators who submit their actual counts through a coalition of the NGF, the PGA of America, Golf Datatech and the NGCOA.The summary report shows comparative change in rounds versus the prior year.

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