Golf Datatech reported that U.S. golf rounds played declined 1.0 percent year-over-year in October, the first monthly decline since March. Rounds remained up 3.3 percent year-to-date (YTD), according to the research firm’s National Rounds Played Report for October 2023.
Among regions in the U.S., the gains were led by the Mid-Atlantic, up 9.2 percent, followed by New England, increasing 7.3 percent; South Atlantic, 4.5 percent; and Mountain, 1.8 percent. The biggest decline was in West North Central, off 9.5 percent, followed by East North Central, 8.8 percent; South Central, 5.9 percent; and Pacific, 0.9 percent.
Rounds played at public golf courses were down 1.1 percent for October, while private courses were down 0.7 percent.
For the YTD period, the largest gains in regional rounds played were led by the Mid-Atlantic states, ahead 8.1 percent, followed by East North Central, 6.8 percent. Other regions showing increases in the YTD period included West North Central, up 5.2 percent; South Central, 3.4 percent; South Atlantic, 3.3 percent; and Mountain, 0.5 percent.
Two regions showed declines in the YTD period with rounds played—New England was down 4.9 percent, and the Pacific region was off 1.5 percent.
Photo courtesy Primland Resort
