Despite a poor economy, rounds at U.S. courses for the first six months of 2009 remained virtually even with the same period the previous year.
The National Golf Rounds Played Report showed that rounds from January through June were up slightly, 0.2 percent. Public course play was up 0.6 percent, while private rounds fell 1.0 percent.
The six-month numbers would have been better, however, weak June play pushed the first-half total down. For the month, overall play fell 3.3 percent, ending a three-month run of increases.
Golf Datatech, which compiles the numbers in cooperation with the PGA of America, National Golf Course Owners Association and National Golf Foundation, blamed the June drop on poor weather in the Northeast and Midwest. Chicago, for instance, reported a decline of 11.1 percent for the month. New York (-14.4 percent), Philadelphia (-14.3 percent) and Kansas City (-15.2 percent) also had significant decreases over June 2008.
Here are the rounds totals for selected metropolitan areas, provided by the National Golf Rounds Played Report.
June YTD
Washington-Baltimore – 5.4% – 4.4%
Orlando – 0.7% -6.7%
Atlanta – 10.7% – 0.9%
Myrtle Beach – 13.4% – 9.1%
New York City – 14.4% – 4.2%
Boston – 8.4% – 3.1%
Chicago – 11.1% + 0.3%
Detroit – 2.8% – 2.4%
St. Louis – 0.8% +16.3%
Dallas/Ft. Worth – 3.8% +4.3%
Los Angeles – 1.9% – 0.9%
San Diego + 1.2% +3.0%
Phoenix + 1.0% – 2.1%
Las Vegas + 1.5% – 0.1%
Seattle + 4.7% +0.3%
