Summer Doldrums Reflected in August Rounds and Revenues

by C&RB Staff (editor@clubandresortbusiness.com)
October 2009
 

At the nationwide level, golf rounds were down 2.0% in August 2009 and courses' days open were nearly flat, according to the latest PerformanceTrak report from The PGA of America and the National Golf Course Owners of America.

The latest numbers pushed year-to-date rounds down 0.7% compared to 2008, although year-to-date days open were up 1.0%.

Reported by type of facility, same-course rounds played at private facilities declined for the third straight month in August, falling 4.3%. During the same month, same-course rounds fell 1.3% at daily fee/semi-private facilities, 1.4% at military/university facilities, and 1.4% at resort facilities.

Median gross golf fee revenue was down 5.7% nationally in August, with merchandise and F&B sales also showing declines compared to the same month a year earlier. Overall gross revenues are off on a year-to-date basis, with resort facilities showing the greatest declines and private facilities a close second.

The August PerformanceTrak report spotlighted three states, noting that Indiana has had a 4% increase in year-to-date rounds played, Mississippi has seen rounds stay flat despite a falloff in days open, and New Jersey has seen significant declines in both year-to-date days open (down 6.9%) and year-to-date rounds played (down 8.5%).

A total of 2,251 golf facilities provided data for the August report.