Golf Courses & Country Clubs NAICS 713910

Feb 18, 2026 - Record Rounds Continue Despite Fewer Courses in 2025

• US golf courses reached another historic high in 2025, with Americans playing more than 500 million rounds for the sixth consecutive year. Total rounds rose just over 1% from 2024, marking the fourth record in five years. In addition, this was achieved despite roughly 2,000 fewer courses than during the early-2000s peak. From 2020–2025, on-course participation increased about 20% and rounds climbed 16% versus the prior six-year average, even as facility count declined 3%. By contrast, during 2000–2005 participation rose 15%, rounds increased 12%, and facilities expanded 6%. For US golf course operators, the data signals sustained, supply-constrained demand. Stable public-course play combined with modest private-facility gains continues to drive record totals. Flexible work patterns, improved booking technology, favorable weather, and stronger perceptions of golf’s wellness and social benefits are reinforcing utilization. The result is a deeper, more diverse player base and structurally higher play levels, underscoring operational and revenue opportunities across the US golf course industry.
• Labor costs were up in November 2025, with average wages for nonsupervisory employees at golf courses and country clubs up 7% compared to a year ago, reaching $22.48 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment by golf courses and country clubs fell 1.3% in November 2025 compared to a year ago. In the past decade, employment by golf courses and country clubs has risen 20.4%, faster than the 12.5% rate for overall private employment. Producer inflation for golf courses and country clubs increased 4.7% in November 2025 compared to a year ago, per the BLS. According to the BLS's Consumer Price Index, the cost of club membership for shopping clubs, fraternal, or other organizations, or participant sports fees fell 0.3% in January 2026, compared to a year ago, and rose 0.2% compared to the previous month.

• According to an Associated Press report, the Trump administration’s termination of a 50-year lease for Washington, D.C.’s three public golf courses highlights potential uncertainty for public golf operators nationwide. The Department of the Interior ended the agreement with National Links Trust in December, citing unmet capital improvement requirements. The nonprofit disputes the claim, stating it invested $8.5 million in upgrades and more than doubled rounds played and revenue over its five-year tenure. While the organization will continue short-term management, long-term renovations have been halted. For the US golf course industry, the move underscores regulatory and political risk tied to operating courses on public land, even amid improving utilization and financial performance. It also raises questions about continuity of access and investment for affordable public golf, particularly as redevelopment or operator changes could alter pricing, participation levels, and the public-private balance within urban golf markets.
• The US golf course and country club industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% between 2025 and 2029, according to a forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The expected growth rate is faster than the overall economy's projected growth. The arts, entertainment, and recreation industries are largely driven by spending by US households and tourists, foreign students, and other visitors. Consumer sentiment is expected to improve in the forecast period, which bodes well for the sector. Further increases in tariffs and decreases in immigrant labor supplies may push price levels higher and postpone improvement of inflation. The slow rise of employment and higher consumption prices may limit expansion of real disposable income to about 1.8% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2026.