Golf Courses & Country Clubs NAICS 713910

Nov 17, 2025 - Country Clubs Expand Beyond Golf to Attract Families

• Country clubs and golf courses are evolving beyond traditional offerings to meet the expectations of younger, multigenerational members, according to a report in Kiplinger. With initiation fees averaging $65,000 and monthly dues near $1,000, members increasingly demand family friendly and wellness focused amenities. Clubs such as The Abaco Club and Old Edwards Reserve have added wiffle ball fields, teen rec rooms, and STEAM labs, while Phoenix Country Club introduced fitness classes, cold plunges, and red light therapy to attract young families. Dining has become a competitive differentiator, with new clubs like Kawonu Golf Club emphasizing premium, simplified menus and farm to table standards. Wellness memberships, such as CDA National Reserve’s longevity program, now include advanced therapies like hyperbaric oxygen and IV infusions. Golf remains the backbone, but short courses and social ranges are gaining popularity, blending recreation with community engagement. The upgrades highlight a strategic shift: country clubs must balance golf tradition with diversified amenities to sustain growth and relevance.
• Rounds of golf nationwide were up nearly 2% in September 2025 year over year, according to data from Golf Datatech and the National Golf Foundation. Year to date, rounds were 1.4% higher than 2024’s record-setting pace. Comparing rounds at private versus public courses, private course rounds were up more than 5% nationwide year to date, while public golf rounds were up 1%. Labor costs were up in July 2025, with average wages for nonsupervisory employees at golf courses and country clubs up 5% compared to a year ago, reaching $20.88 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment by golf courses and country clubs fell 3.5% in July 2025 compared to a year ago. In the past decade, employment by golf courses and country clubs has risen 15.1%, faster than the 13% rate for overall private employment. Producer inflation for golf courses and country clubs increased 4% in August 2025 compared to a year ago, per the BLS.

• Private golf clubs, though serving just 8% of US golfers, are driving significant economic impact in the sector, with private club play up 3% in 2025 year over year, according to a recent report by the National Golf Foundation. The private club members tend to play more frequently, spend more on instruction and travel, and have higher household incomes. In 2025, private club play outpaced public course growth, which was up 1%. Membership rosters and waitlists have expanded notably, fueled by a 16% rise in overall golf participation since 2019 and a nearly 50% increase in private club membership during the Covid era. Many private facilities now report operating near capacity, prompting a rise in new course development, of which over half is tied to private clubs. For operators, the private club growth signals strong demand and strategic opportunity in the premium segment of the golf market.
• Golf courses may face challenges due to softening consumer sentiment and confidence in November and October 2025, reflecting a growing weakness in discretionary spending. The University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment dropped 6.2% month-over-month in November's preliminary results to 50.3, a 29.9% year-over-year decline. The Current Economic Conditions Index fell to 52.3, and the Expectations Index to 49, down 36.3% annually. Year-ahead inflation expectations rose to 4.7%, while long-run expectations declined to 3.6%, with increased uncertainty across both horizons. Meanwhile, the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged down to 94.6 from 95.6 in October, as improved current conditions (Present Situation Index up to 129.3) were offset by weaker short-term expectations (Expectations Index down to 71.5). Inflation expectations rose to 5.9%, and over half of consumers anticipated higher interest rates.