Charleston, South Carolina, United States: The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), the trade association dedicated exclusively to golf course ownership and operations, has released its latest publication, the 2024 Golf Business Pulse Report.

The report, which was developed and produced in partnership with Sports and Leisure Research Group (SLRG) and is sponsored by Pepsi, examines critical issues that golf course owners and operators are facing today.

The report’s data, analysis and insights on opinions, challenges and emerging trends are essential for business planning in the year ahead.

Continuing the strategy of the inaugural 2022 Golf Business Pulse Report, this year’s edition also incorporates perspectives drawn from in-depth interviews conducted with NGCOA members, and a comprehensive and empirical survey of hundreds of facility owners and operators.

It uncovers trends and issues, and reveals significant shifts and developments in the areas of Operations, Agronomy and Marketing.

“This year’s report is a cocktail of data, feelings, intuition, observations and quotables,” said Jay Karen, NGCOA’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Golf course owners and operators are living and working in the most interesting time. The Golf Business Pulse Report is a great read to help decode the complexities and opportunities in front of us. We are pleased to contribute this once again to the body of knowledge in our industry,” added Karen.

The results show attitudes and perceptions on significant challenges, opportunities and issues, and determine the extent of their impact on golf facility performance optimisation.

The report also explores technology, labour issues, inflation, gamification, new player orientation and more, and reveals empirical, attitudinal and operational perspectives, and perceptual gaps and alignment across key constituent groups and varying golf facility segments.

Jon Last, President of Sports and Leisure Research Group, said: “2024 represents a potential inflection point for the golf course management industry as we seek to navigate a still uncertain economic landscape, ride the crest of golf’s recent surge in popularity and look to find the right balance amidst a challenging labour environment, transformational changes in high tech, and our heritage of high touch.

“We’re honoured and appreciative of our partnership with NGCOA to bring forward critical insights that can help guide us forward on this journey.”

NGCOA members can download the report at no cost, and non-member golf course owners and operators can purchase the report for US$99. Visit ngcoa.org/info-centers/research/pulse-report for details.