The National Golf Foundation is reporting that rounds played in the U.S. in the month of August decreased 2.7% compared to the same month last year. As a result, the year-to-date figure is down 0.8% through August, though the premium public segment is slightly positive for the YTD period.


Severe weather in the Midwest was the primary cause for the drop in U.S. rounds. However, five of 11 NGF climate regions were actually up slightly. But the Lower Midwest, hardest hit among regions, was down 8.6%. Still, it is the South Central that has the poorest performance year-to-date, even though the region had a relatively good August.