A slight year-over-year dip in December rounds — thanks in part to wintry weather in the Northeast and Midwest — wasn’t enough to derail another record-setting year for play on a national level.
December rounds were down 9% compared to a year ago (when more favorable golf weather in certain seasonal parts of the country contributed to a +24% YOY jump to close out 2023).
For the year, the total number of rounds eclipsed the previous 2023 high by 2.2%. It’s the third time in the past four years that a record number of golf rounds have been played at U.S. courses.
To close out 2024, December’s most pronounced YOY play declines were in the East North Central (-47%), Mid Atlantic (-53%) and New England (-64%), all regions in which the average monthly temperature was at least six degrees colder than in December 2023.
Play was also down double-digits percentagewise in the South Atlantic and South Central Regions, while one of the few “gainers” was actually in Pacific Region despite potential impacts from the wildfires in southern California.
NGF provides confidential, facility-level rounds data to Golf Datatech in helping compile the free, monthly play reports on behalf of the golf industry.
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