U.S. rounds down 15.1% through April

The numbers have been crunched, and they confirm what we expected: The number of rounds played at U.S. golf properties has fallen by 15.1 percent through the first four months of this year. Only one region of the nation, the Pacific states (California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington), has so far been able to record a gain (3.2 percent). The declines were worst in the West North Central states (down by 52 percent), the East North Central states (down by 47 percent) and the Mid Atlantic states (down by 30 percent). The National Golf Rounds Played Report has also determined that the number of rounds played at private facilities so far this year is off by 18.2 percent while the number played at public tracks is off by 14.2 percent.