Through what is being called the first exclusively online equipment trial offer in the golf industry, the website’s U-Try program lets men and women try out new drivers and fairway woods from major manufacturers for up to two weeks, with statistical feedback from a complimentary Arrcos sensor. The website plans to expand the program to hybrids and iron sets later this year.
NGF Survey Finds Positive Impact from Topgolf
The National Golf Foundation studied guests at the entertainment facilities who play traditional on-course golf as well as those who don’t, and found that overall, nearly a third said that playing Topgolf leads them to play more traditional golf. Among non-golfers, more than half said that playing at the venues had positively influenced their interest in playing green-grass rounds.
$2M in Improvements Planned for Palmer Hills GC
The municipal facility in Bettendorf, Iowa, will undergo changes over four phases through 2021. The property will see improvements to the driving range, a new putting course named The Bluffs at Palmer Hills, a new 1,500-sq. ft. service building, and a new short course called Links at Palmer Hills. Funding for the project is expected…
CNBC: Millennials, Women Breathe Life into Golf
With Under Armour’s golf category growing 25% in the past three years and the introduction of Foray Golf, which specializes in golf apparel for young women, both millennials and women are being drawn to the sport, with off-course facilities like Topgolf leading the charge. Millennial golfers are breathing life into the sport despite a steady stream…
Masters Moment
The majority of the golf and club market is enjoying a period of stability that is a welcome relief from ten years of contraction, consolidation, and member attrition/transition.
Forbes: Golf Course Investments Since 2006 Total $3B
The report debunks the “lazy narrative” of golf’s decline that points to the number of golf course closures by refocusing on the number of golf course renovation projects. Almost 100 courses re-opened last year after full 18-hole renovations that represented a capital investment of at least $300 million, according to the report, which does not include minor rehabilitation projects.
NGF’s Latest U.S. Course Count Shows “Healthy Self-Balancing”
While course contraction continued, the National Golf Foundation’s 2017 report showed no direct impact on frequency of play, with rounds increasing in each of the past two years. The latest figures also reflect greater accessibility to the game through the highest-ever percentage of open-to-public facilities, and continuation of the trend for heavy investment in full-renovation projects.
National Golf Foundation Develops Custom Club Market Data Report
The Private Club Report includes local market demographics and golf supply/demand metrics, maps plotting members’ residences, and analyses suggesting where clubs can look for prospective members. The report uses NGF’s GolfMAP software, which extracts neighborhood block-level data from the U.S. Census and NGF’s own data sources.
City Considers Changes for Blackberry Farm GC
Under the proposed Stevens Creek Corridor Master Plan, the Cupertino, Calif., golf course would undergo changes to enhance its multi-generational appeal. Plans include reducing the turf from 13 to 8.7 acres to save water, adding a footgolf and practice course, creating a new pro shop and replacing the 54-year-old Blue Peasant Restaurant with a new clubhouse.
Golf Courses Divided on Third-Party Tee Time Sellers
While online tee time services like GolfNow and TeeOff provide national marketing and exposure, some course owners are concerned about losing control of their tee sheet and maintaining price integrity among loyal customers who are paying the “rack rate” for their tee times.
Golf Industry Slammed For “Shanking” the Obama Years
“The leading golf organizations representing the game in the U.S. completely whiffed on a three-foot putt to promote themselves” and capitalize on the exposure provided by President Obama, who has played 270 rounds on 18 courses in six states during his time in office, a Democratic strategist wrote. But those commenting on the blog posting noted the danger of tying marketing efforts to “the most polarizing figure ever to occupy the White House.”
Final 2015 Numbers for Golf Show 600,000 Dip in Overall Participation
The year counted 24.1 million players in the U.S., after two years at 24.7 million. But positive signs can be found, according to the National Golf Foundation, in strength among committed golfers, beginning golfers and those interested in taking up the game. Attrition in the overall number continues to be confined mainly to those “who never really got into the game,” the organization says.
WSJ Highlights the Struggle to Keep Golfers Coming Back
A report by the National Golf Foundation shows that while the sport is attracting more new players than at any time since the early 2000s, few new golfers are sticking with the game. The NGF found that comfort and competence primarily drive retention, and puts the onus on golf properties to offer the facilities and programs that keep golfers interested in the long haul.
North Florida Golf Courses Enjoy Growth
The region is showing a 5% growth in people playing golf, with Windsor Parke Golf Club in Jacksonville, a formerly private facility that now relies on public access, reporting that it keeps players coming back through a stellar food and beverage department at the clubhouse, high-level course conditions, and customer service.
Event-Full Occasions
Socializing + cocktails + a side order of golf = winning events!