Golf Datatech, recently acquired by Circana, reported that golf rounds played in the U.S. were down 0.8 percent in May year-over-year but remained up 2.5 percent in the first five months of 2024.
By region for the month, the Mid-Atlantic had the biggest decline in rounds played, off 5.1 percent, followed by New England, declining 4.5 percent; South Central, 4.0 percent; West North Central, 3.1 percent; and South Atlantic, 1.5 percent.
The Pacific region gained the most rounds played, up 4.8 percent. Other regions that gained player rounds included East North Central, up 2.9 percent, and Mountain, increasing 1.8 percent.
May’s 0.8 percent decline marked the first negative month since January.
Golf rounds played grew 0.8 percent for April, jumped 21.2 percent in March and advanced 4.9 percent in February. Golf rounds declined 16.6 percent in January as rain impacted play in several regions nationwide.
In the year-to-date period, the strongest gains in golf rounds played were in the West North Central, climbing 10.2 percent, followed by Mountain, 9.7 percent; East North Central, 9.4 percent; and Pacific, 6.1 percent.
Declining regions in the year-to-date period included New England, off 6.7 percent; South Atlantic, 3.0 percent; Mid-Atlantic, 2.6 percent; and South Central, 1.1 percent.
