According to Golf Datatech, U.S. rounds of golf returned to year-over-year growth in December, up 1.9 percent. For the full year, rounds played were up 5.5 percent.
By region in the month of December, the gains were led by the Mid-Atlantic, up 30.9 percent; West North Central, 22.2 percent; South Atlantic, 13.0 percent; East North Central, 9.9 percent; and South Central, 4.3 percent.
Declining regions in the month included the Pacific, down 21.1 percent; Mountain, 2.9 percent; and New England, 0.9 percent.
Play at the nation’s golf courses had been declining since June as they’ve faced tough comparisons against pandemic-related surges in the year-ago period. In recent months, play year-over-year was down 17.6 percent in November, 1.8 percent in October; and 8.0 percent in September.
