The number of rounds of golf played nationwide was down slightly in the month of April, while rounds played at resort facilities suffered a much steeper drop, according to a report by PerformanceTrak, a publication from the PGA of America and the National Golf Course Owner's Association.
Overall rounds played was down only 1.6 percent in April when compared to April 2008, but there were clear differences in results by facility type. For example, the number of same-store rounds (same-store rounds means, for example, that only facilities reporting rounds for both April 2009 and April 2008 are included in the results) played at private facilities was virtually unchanged, while same-store rounds played at resort facilities was down 8.0 percent.
This supports a theme that avid private golfers are maintaining their rounds at local facilities while destination resorts are being affected by economic conditions.
April data was provided nearly 2,300 golf facilities nationwide, as well as statistical information from the PGA and NGCOA participants.
Overall, year-to-date the number of rounds played is down half a percentage point.
Good weather and a healthy increase year-to-date days open for the state of Illinois led to a 22 percent increase in rounds played compared to this time last year.Other states in the Midwest had similar YTD results.
Things aren't so good in North Carolina, one of the states in the Southeast that is showing YTD declines in rounds played.
The YTD rounds played in North Carolina declined more than 11 percent. A portion of the decreased rounds played can be attributed to the YTD decreases in days open, which fell by almost 8 percent in the Tarheel State.
About PerformanceTrak News
PerformanceTrak in Cooperation with NGCOA is the largest single source of rounds played data in the industry. Primary contributors to this monthly rounds played and revenue report are PGA Professionals and NGCOA Member owners and operators. Unique to PerformanceTrak, current year and prior year volume figures for monthly and year-to-date rounds played are provided along with percent change.
In addition to rounds played monthly data, PGA Professionals, employers and other registered users of PerformanceTrak also provide revenue data for four key performance indicators (KPIs). These include golf fee revenue, merchandising revenue, food and beverage revenue and total revenue.
Comparative reports are generated for revenue per round with drill-down segmentation by facility size and by state, local markets and for PGA of America, by PGA Section. Publicly available rounds played and KPI reports are available at www.PGAPerformanceTrak.com.