Some unseasonably warm and dry weather along the northern tier had golfers on the links later in the year than usual in 2006. Television broadcasts showed players teeing it up over the holidays from New York to Michigan. As a result, there were some unusually high increases in the percentage change between 2006 and 2005 rounds in December, albeit on a low volume. For example, facilities in the Northeast averaged about 100 rounds in December 2005 and about 400 rounds in December 2006, for a 300% increase.
The 16.7% increase in rounds nationwide for December pushed up the year-to-date figure to 0.8% on a same-store basis. (Same-store means that only facilities reporting data for both 2006 and 2005 were included in the results.) The Southeast finished the year with the largest increase (4.5%) followed by Central/South Florida (3.4%). The Southwest was down more than any other region (-1.1%). See the table below for more detail.
The following two charts show the six-year trend in rounds played, both on a same-store basis and in terms of volume. After a combined drop in same-store rounds of 4.5% following 9/11, rounds have rebounded slightly over the past few years, but are still below 2001 levels.
The rounds volume chart shows estimates of total rounds and accounts for facilities that opened and closed during each year. It shows that after a drop of 3.0% in 2002, total rounds played in the U.S. have been relatively flat since that time.
Rounds Volume (millions)
Percentage Change in Same-Store Rounds
December Rounds Played
Rounds Played, 2006 vs. 2005
Source: NGF/Allied Golf Associations
December Year-To-Date
Total U.S. facilities 16.7% 0.8%
Private Clubs 14.2% 1.0%
Total Public Courses 17.6% 0.7%
Public Courses:
Premium 3.3% -0.2%
Standard 26.7% 1.5%
Value 16.7% 0.6%
Region
Northeast 314.4% 1.5%
Mid-Atlantic 106.8% 1.1%
Southeast 17.4% 4.5%
Central/South Florida -2.2% 3.4%
Gulf Coast -6.1% 2.6%
South Central -9.6% 0.3%
Lower Midwest 106.7% -0.5%
Upper Midwest 296.2% -0.3%
Mountain -56.6% -0.8%
Southwest -1.4% -1.1%
Northwest 0.3% 0.2%
Public facilities fall into one of three categories based on peak season weekend green fees with cart:
Premium (High) - Above $70
Standard (Middle) - $40-$70
Value (Low) - Below $40
