Rounds of golf for September 2022 were down almost 2% compared to the same period a year ago, the first year-over-year decline in national play over the past four months.
September rounds were still up over recent pre-pandemic years, but were most affected by notable declines in several well-supplied golf states in various parts of the country: California (-8.8%), Pennsylvania (-12.4%), Ohio (-12.5%), and Florida (-15.2%). All four of those states rank among the top seven in the U.S. in total supply, with over 3,500 courses between them.
The monthly change is in the typical weather-related fluctuation of +/- 2% to 3%.
It’s also worth noting that this year’s 1.7% decline came after September 2021 rounds dipped 8% in comparison to the previous year. But play in September 2020 — fueled by the post-Covid course re-openings and surges in engagement — had seen a 25% increase over 2019. So this year’s September rounds, while “down,” still trended ahead of recent pre-Covid years.
Entering the final three months of the year, rounds are 2.5% off 2021’s record pace.
NGF provides facility-level rounds data to Golf Datatech in helping compile the free, monthly play reports on behalf of the golf industry. Click the image below to see the full report. 
