Collaboration will support the 2026 U.S. Golf Study and expand access to performance intelligence and data-driven insights across the golf industry
CHICAGO, Illinois— The National Golf Foundation, Greenlight Advisors and GolfClubBenchmarks.com have announced a strategic industry intelligence partnership designed to expand participation in the 2026 U.S. Golf Study and strengthen the golf industry’s understanding of facility performance through aggregated operating data, research and practical business insights.
The collaboration brings together NGF’s industry leadership, research expertise, consulting and advisory capabilities and member network with GolfClubBenchmarks.com’s confidential benchmarking platform and Greenlight Advisors’ business intelligence capabilities. A central focus of the relationship will be identifying opportunities to collaborate around aggregated, anonymized operating data that complements NGF’s broader research and industry intelligence needs.
NGF will help build awareness of and encourage participation in the 2026 U.S. Golf Study through its network. The organizations will also explore opportunities to combine aggregated operating intelligence with NGF research and direct advisory experience to provide greater context and practical insights for golf facility owners and operators.
Supporting the 2026 U.S. Golf Study
The 2026 U.S. Golf Study is a nationwide collaborative performance intelligence initiative bringing together municipalities, public daily-fee and resort golf facilities, golf management companies and industry organizations to establish meaningful benchmarks and identify opportunities for improved financial and operational performance.
Through the partnership, NGF will encourage eligible facilities to participate in the Study, helping broaden the pool of aggregated operating information and strengthen the industry’s understanding of golf facility performance across regions, facility types and operating models.
Participation is currently complimentary for eligible municipal, public daily fee, resort and golf management organizations. Complimentary participation and registration is open through September 15, 2026, with data collection continuing through September 30, 2026. Facility information remains strictly confidential, with industry results reported only in aggregated and anonymous form.
“Better industry intelligence starts with better data. By collaborating around aggregated operating data and combining that intelligence with NGF’s research and advisory expertise, we have an opportunity to deepen the industry’s understanding of golf facility performance and provide greater value to owners and operators. — Greg Nathan, President & CEO, National Golf Foundation
Turning Industry Data into Actionable Business Intelligence
The collaboration creates opportunities to combine complementary sources of industry intelligence and help translate aggregated operating data into practical insights for golf facility owners and operators.
Greenlight Advisors and GolfClubBenchmarks.com will administer the Study, manage confidential facility data and develop benchmarking reports, executive dashboards and aggregated intelligence. The resulting intelligence will include national and regional trends, financial and operational analytics, capital stewardship metrics, player experience insights and other analyses developed from aggregated, anonymous facility data.
Where appropriate, the organizations will explore opportunities to collaborate around aggregated and/or anonymized operating data/intelligence in support of NGF research, consulting and advisory initiatives.
Participating facilities will receive a comprehensive package of performance intelligence, including:
- • Complimentary GolfClubBenchmarks.com Essentials Membership
- • Best-in-Class Report Card
- • 2026 U.S. Golf Study National Benchmark Report
- • Executive Dashboards and Performance Insights
- • Year-over-Year Performance Comparisons
- • Confidential benchmarking across four performance pillars:
Financial Performance, Operational Performance, Capital Asset Stewardship, and Player Experience & Engagement
These resources are designed to help golf facilities identify areas of underperformance, improve operational efficiency, support strategic and capital planning, and make more informed business decisions to strengthen the Industry of Golf.
Combining Industry Intelligence with NGF Research and Advisory Expertise
Beyond supporting participation in the 2026 U.S. Golf Study, the relationship creates opportunities to combine aggregated and/or anonymized operating data/intelligence with NGF’s research, consulting and advisory capabilities. NGF works directly with golf facilities, municipalities and industry organizations, providing a practical perspective on how industry data can inform strategy, operations and investment decisions.
The combination of aggregated facility performance data, NGF research and direct advisory experience can help turn industry intelligence into practical insights for owners and operators. As an additional benefit of the relationship, NGF members will have access to preferred GCB pricing and enrollment opportunities, educational webinars, selected intelligence and ongoing benchmarking opportunities. Greenlight Advisors and GolfClubBenchmarks.com will manage GCB enrollment, onboarding and platform services.
Over time, the organizations may also explore collaborative research, industry reports, educational programming, executive briefings and other initiatives where aggregated operating intelligence can complement NGF’s research and advisory work.
Advancing Golf Industry Performance Intelligence
“This collaboration creates an opportunity to bring together complementary strengths across operating data, research and advisory expertise,” said Michael A. Suglich, CPA, Founder & CEO of Greenlight Advisors.
“NGF has an extraordinary understanding of the golf industry and a longstanding reputation for research, market intelligence and advisory work. Combining that perspective with aggregated facility-level operating intelligence from the 2026 U.S. Golf Study can help deepen the industry’s understanding of golf facility performance and provide owners and operators with more useful context for decision-making.”
Suglich continued, “The 2026 U.S. Golf Study provides an ideal starting point. By expanding participation, we can strengthen the underlying operating dataset while working with NGF to explore how aggregated intelligence can support research, education and practical insights for the industry.”
The shared long-term vision is to expand the golf industry’s operating intelligence and create additional opportunities to turn aggregated data, research and advisory expertise into better-informed business decisions.
A Growing Industry Collaboration
The National Golf Foundation joins the PGA of America, National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), and International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) in supporting the 2026 U.S. Golf Study and advancing benchmarking, industry collaboration, and data-driven decision-making. The expanding collaboration is designed to create a broader, more representative base of aggregated performance information while maintaining confidentiality and independence fundamental to GolfClubBenchmarks.com.