The PGA of America and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) announced recently that rounds played in 2008 were down 0.8% nationwide, with a similar decline in YTD days open (-0.7%). This is based on responses from approximately 2,500 facilities per month throughout the year.
Average rounds played in 2008 were 27,966, compared to 28,202 in 2007, with rounds played trending up compared to 2007 in five months (February, April, July, August and October), while trending downward during the remaining seven months of 2008.
The December 2008 YTD report of rounds played by facility type shows that rounds at private golf facilities were flat for the amount of days that those facilities were open (-0.4% rounds played and -0.4% days open). Resort rounds were down 3.7% compared to days open being down only 1.3%, an indication that resort facilities have been affected much more by the economy.
Year-to-date 2008 median golf fee revenue per round was up 1.7% supported by the ability to maintain rates during the high volume portion of the season. Year-to-date median golf fee revenue dollars were up 0.7% for the year.
According the NGCOA, this increase in gross golf fee revenue dollars reflects the combination of rounds played and rates. In 2008, the rate component on the plus side outweighed the volume decline.
