The National Golf Foundation, which has been tracking golf consumer confidence throughout the recession that began in December 2007, reported that golfer confidence has stabilized recently.

Although rounds played volume in the U.S. was down 3.3 percent in June 2009 versus June 2008, year-to-date rounds are up 0.2 percent.

The greatest growth (9.6 percent YTD) occurred in what the report calls the West North Central region of the U.S., followed distantly (3.1 percent YTD) by the East North Central region. The greatest losses in rounds (-4.9 percent YTD) occurred in the South Atlantic region.

NGF says its findings, which it bases on the responses of core golfers about their rounds and spending habits in periodic surveys, are consistent with those of other research organizations.