According to the National Golf Foundation, same-store rounds in the U.S. were up in 2007 vs. 2006 in the important summer months of May, June and July. The NGF cautioned, however, that given recent rain and flooding in the Midwest and South Central, the good news may not hold through August. Nevertheless, rounds were up 4.1% in July nationwide, bringing the year-to-date number to -0.4%. In fact, premium and mid-fee public courses moved into positive territory through the first seven months of the year.
With Texas being hard-hit by Mother Nature, the South Central and Gulf Coast registered the worst July performance regionally. And the South Central is down 10% for the year. Meanwhile, the Lower Midwest (up 8.9%) and Mid-Atlantic (up 8.0%) had the best showing in July.
