Same-store rounds played in the U.S. increased 1.1%, according to the National Golf Foundation. The NGF gathers its information from over 1,300 golf facilities nationwide. Despite the improved performance in May, rounds across the nation were down 1.6% through the first five months of the year, with private clubs faring worse than public courses.
The region with the poorest year-to-date performance was the Southwest (down 7.7%), which includes California, Nevada, and southern Arizona. Better performance overall in May was mainly attributable to strong gains in the Lower Midwest (up 5.6%) and Upper Midwest (up 4.6%) together these regions contain about a third of all U.S. facilities.
Rounds Played, 2005 vs. 2004
Source: NGF/Allied Golf Associations
| May | Year-To-Date | |
| Total U.S. facilities |
1.1% | -1.6% |
| Private Clubs |
-0.8% | -3.9% |
| Total Public Courses |
1.5% | -1.0% |
| Public Courses: |
||
| Premium | -2.4% | -2.8% |
| Standard | 1.1% | -1.0% |
| Value | 2.1% | -0.8% |
| Region | ||
| Northeast | -3.5% | -1.1% |
| Mid-Atlantic | 2.8% | -3.5% |
| Southeast | 2.1% | -2.3% |
| Central/South Florida | -0.9% | -0.9% |
| Gulf Coast | 8.8% | 3.6% |
| South Central |
-5.7% | -3.1% |
| Lower Midwest |
5.6% | 2.4% |
| Upper Midwest |
4.6% | 0.7% |
| Mountain | -6.2% | 0.9% |
| Southwest | -2.7% | -7.7% |
| Northwest | -4.8% | -1.3% |
Public facilities fall into one of three categories based on peak season weekend green fees with cart:
Premium (High) – Above $70
Standard (Middle) – $40-$70
Value (Low) – Below $40
