Rounds at U.S. golf courses rose 1.4 percent in April, the second consecutive month of increase in 2009, according to the National Golf Rounds Played Report.
The rise was attributed entirely to play at public courses, which was up 1.8 percent during the month from April 2008. Private club play showed no change in April compared to the previous year.
March rounds rose 3.4 percent overall, according to the report prepared by Golf Datatech with the cooperation of the PGA of America, National Golf Course Owners Association and National Golf Foundation.
Mild weather in the West North Central region (Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota) helped fuel an 18.5 percent increase in rounds there. The same was true in the six New England states, where a 9.5 percent rise in play was reported.
For the year, U.S. rounds overall are now 2.0 percent ahead of the same period in 2008.
Here are the rounds totals for selected metropolitan areas of the U.S.:
April 2009 YTD 2009
Washington-Baltimore -1.0% -5.4%
Orlando -3.6% -6.2%
Naples-Ft. Myers -0.3% -1.7%
Atlanta -4.6% -8.0%
Myrtle Beach -7.2% -8.9%
New York City -3.6% -1.6%
Chicago -0.1% +16.4%
Nashville +6.8% +10.0%
St. Louis +18.9% +37.3%
Dallas/Ft. Worth -1.9% +10.3%
Los Angeles +1.0% -1.7%
San Diego +6.0% +3.6%
Phoenix -6.3% -1.7%
Las Vegas -2.9% -2.7%
Seattle +14.1% +0.3%
Source: National Rounds Played Report