Golf Datatech, which agreed to be acquired by Circana, reported that National Rounds Played for 2023 were up 4.2 percent, with the most significant increase coming out of the Mid-Atlantic region covering New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. New England had the only decline for the year, with rounds decreasing 4.9 percent year-over-year.

Regional Change in Rounds Played – 2023

  • Pacific +0.2 percent
  • Mountain +2.0 percent
  • West North Central +6.3 percent
  • East North Central + 6.8 percent
  • South Central +5.4 percent
  • New England -4.9 percent
  • Mid-Atlantic +8.4 percent
  • South Atlantic +4.0 percent

National Rounds Played at private courses were up 2.8 percent for the year, while rounds played at public access courses were up 4.5 percent.

For December, National Rounds Played were up 23.9 percent, primarily driven by warmer temperatures across the U.S. Rounds played were up the most in the East North Central region, which includes Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, posting a 154 percent increase in rounds played for December. No regions saw a decline.

Regional Change in Rounds Played in December 2023:

  • Pacific +18.2 percent
  • Mountain +20.6 percent
  • West North Central +91.9 percent
  • East North Central +153.4 percent
  • South Central +30.2 percent
  • New England +60.8 percent
  • Mid-Atlantic +67.9 percent
  • South Atlantic +11.9 percent

National rounds played at private courses were up 26.0 percent for December, while rounds played at public access courses were up 23.2 percent year-over-year for the month.

Image courtesy Pebble Beach Golf Links