National Golf Foundation Special COVID-19 Impact Update
NGF’s latest nationwide surveys shows 44% of courses are open, focuses on core golfer sentiments
Jupiter, FL – The National Golf Foundation’s latest nationwide poll of golf facilities indicates that approximately 44% of courses are still allowing play amid the coronavirus pandemic, with significant regional differences.
The nationally-representative survey encompassing all types of U.S. facilities – daily fee public, private, municipal, resort and residential communities – indicates courses that have suspended golf operations tend to be concentrated in urban areas, not unlike the virus itself. The golf course tracker is the centerpiece of a special NGF COVID-19 webpage that provides information and key data points on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the golf business.
The most recent telephone poll was conducted the first week of April among a sample of 1,279 golf facilities randomly selected from the NGF’s complete database of over 14,000 golf facilities that were operating as of the end of last year. Results are accurate to within plus or minus three percent.
The latest update also features the results from a new focused study of core golfers and includes a “Golf Itch” meter that indicates latent demand for playing golf is building despite varying levels of financial or personal anxiety. Survey results also show that golf consumers — although on average more financially secure than the broader U.S. population — are neither insensitive nor immune to the current or potential financial impacts of the coronavirus, which has led some to postpone or even abandon planned purchases and other spending (golf or otherwise).
In the golf retail sector, all national stores remain closed to foot traffic while approximately 20% of independent and regional retailers (doors) are open, down from 35% the previous week. From an overall square footage perspective, only 4% of total off-course golf specialty space is now open to in-store traffic, down from 8% in the previous polling.
For more complete findings along with data visualizations, including a look at several individual state overviews, visit www.thengfq.com/covid-19.
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About the National Golf Foundation
The National Golf Foundation, founded in 1936, is driven by its mission to foster the growth and vitality of the game and business of golf. The NGF holds a unique position as the most trusted and preeminent provider of market research, marketing databases, business insights and programs that support every segment of the industry. For more information, please visit www.ngf.org.
Contact:
Erik Matuszewski
National Golf Foundation
Editorial Director
(609) 577-0652
erikm@ngf.org
