Rounds at U.S. golf courses fell sharply in November, dropping 6.7 percent from a year ago.
The third consecutive month of decline totaled by the November National Golf Rounds Played report dropped the year-to-date total to 1.6 percent below the 2007 level, assuring that the overall numbers for all of 2008 will show a decline. Traditionally, only a small percentage of the total rounds are compiled in December.
All but one of the seven regions tracked by the report showed a decline in November. Only New England, where rounds grew by just 0.1 percent, had a positive number.
Here are the numbers for several major U.S. metropolitan areas.
November YTD
Washington-Baltimore – 9.4% – 3.9%
Orlando – 3.4% +2.6%
Atlanta – 21.1% -3.0%
Myrtle Beach – 8.1% – 7.5%
New York City – 8.3% – 0.4%
Boston – 3.0% +0.4%
Chicago – 6.3% – 3.2%
Detroit +10.9% – 2.8%
St. Louis – 16.2 % – 8.9%
Dallas/Ft. Worth + 2.3% + 8.2%
Los Angeles – 1.3% + 0.3%
San Diego + 2.3% + 4.7%
Phoenix – 4.2% +0.1%
Las Vegas – 9.6% – 8.9%
Seattle +10.7% + 3.4%
Source: National Golf Rounds Played Report