Golfers are traveling more than ever to play on distant courses, according to a new survey by the National Golf Foundation. In 2023, some 12.2 million adults in the United States took a trip explicitly to visit a golf course. While that number seems high, it actually is a little short of the all-time high of 12.4 million set in 2022, and this year the number is projected to be even higher.
NGF reports that since 2022, golf travel is up 20% over the historical average of the years 1989-2023. Course operators and management companies can corroborate these numbers, based on the momentum of the early season and pre-bookings. Even TSA checkpoint numbers vouch for the increased numbers, showing overall traffic this year already trending ahead of the last three years.
It’s yet another example of the post-COVID golf boom, especially given that people feel the need to make up for time lost to the pandemic. Multiple high-profile locations across the country are enjoying the benefits of the pent-up demand and are capitalizing on it with the opening of new courses. Pinehurst just opened its 11th course, Bandon Dunes debuted a par-3 course to coincide with its 25th anniversary, Streamsong in Florida will soon open a new short course, and Cabot Citrus Farm unveiled its three renovated courses following the acquisition.
It’s not just the big names, though; regionally-known facilities pull in golfers from all walks of life both from inside their state as well as the neighboring ones. Golf tourism is the second-biggest economic driver in the industry; only facility operation generates more money. More than $31 billion is spent on golf travel in the U.S. People are all about the “experience” when they travel, and golfers are no exception.
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Inc Magazine…