Golf Courses & Country Clubs NAICS 713910

Aug 26, 2025 - US Golf Courses See Decline in Canadian Visitors

• Golf courses in the northern US are reporting a decline in Canadian golfers in summer 2025, due to ongoing political tensions, unfavorable currency exchange rates, and higher travel costs, according to Travel and Tour World. Some golf courses, such as Malone Golf Club in New York, rely on a steady influx of Canadian visitors booking tee times. Malone reported a revenue loss of approximately $400,000 as of July 2025 attributed to the downturn in Canadian visitors. Per the report, “Instead of crossing into the United States, many Canadian golfers are choosing to remain in their home country, turning to local golf courses that offer convenience, lower perceived travel risks, and cost savings.” Figures reported by the US Customs and Border Protection show that the number of Canadians crossing into the US through northern border checkpoints fell by 21% in May 2025 year over year.
• Indicators measuring the collective mood of US consumers show mixed signals, with consumer confidence levels slightly up and consumer sentiment falling. Consumer confidence levels, an indicator of discretionary expenditures, improved in July 2025, month over month, rising by 2 points, according to the Consumer Confidence Index. Consumer confidence levels have stabilized since May but remain lower than last year’s, according to The Conference Board, which publishes the monthly index. July’s gain can be attributed to consumers over 35 years old and shared across all income groups, except the lowest income group earning below $15K. In addition, the consumer sentiment index from the University of Michigan dropped in August 2025 for the first time in four months. The index fell to 58.6 in preliminary August data from 61.7 in July. Year-ahead inflation expectation results were higher monthly, as consumers convey lingering anxiety about prices amid tariff impacts. The index serves as a predictor of consumer spending as it indicates consumers’ perception of their financial prospects and the broader economy.

• Rounds of golf nationwide were virtually unchanged in June 2025 year over year, according to data from Golf Datatech and the National Golf Foundation. Year to date, rounds were less than 1% behind 2024’s record-setting pace. Labor costs were up in June 2025, with average wages for nonsupervisory employees at golf courses and country clubs up 4.2% compared to a year ago, reaching $20.72 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment by golf courses and country clubs fell 3.2% in June 2025 compared to a year ago. In the past decade, employment by golf courses and country clubs has risen 15.7%, faster than the 13.2% rate for overall private employment. Producer inflation for golf courses and country clubs increased 4.2% in July 2025 compared to a year ago, per the BLS.
• The Arts, Entertainment & Recreation industry is one of six industries reporting a decline in July’s Services ISM Report on Business. Executives in the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation industry reported decreases in new orders and inventories in July. Additional industries reporting contraction during the period were Accommodation & Food Services; Construction; Mining; Educational Services; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services. Industries reporting growth during the period were Transportation & Warehousing; Wholesale Trade; Finance & Insurance; Retail Trade; Other Services; Management of Companies & Support Services; Public Administration; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Information; Utilities; and Health Care & Social Assistance. Overall, economic activity in the services sector grew in July for the second consecutive month, with the Services PMI registering 50.1%.