According to Golf Datatech, rounds of golf played in the U.S. fell 16.7 percent in April. Rounds at public access courses were down 5.9 percent while private courses were off 3.3 percent.


“Although rounds were up in the first quarter of 2011, those are light months nationally for golf, explained Tom Stine, CEO of Golf Datatech.  April is the month when the season kicks off nationally and April’s weather on a national basis was basically wet and cold. Wet and cold equals lousy golf weather, especially to start the season. 


Stine continued, “Of all the factors the industry would like attribute to rounds played, the bottom line…the biggest factor… is always the weather,” according to Tom Stine of Golf Datatech, the industry retail and consumer research company that also produces the national rounds played monthly reports.
For the year-to date period, rounds played were down 5.9 percent.