With six months of data in the books, U.S. golf courses are on pace to set a record for rounds played for the fifth time in six years.
There’s been no slowdown in demand during the peak-season months, with year-over-year play up nearly 6% in May and 1% in June. Rounds-played totals have been ahead of or on par with last year’s record-setting pace in every month so far this year.
Overall, play at U.S. courses over the past 6 ½ years continues to run about 16% ahead of the comparable pace from 2013 to 2019. And the current 12-month rolling index for rounds is currently at its highest level over the past decade.
Midway through 2026, nationwide play is trending about 4% ahead of the same time in 2025, when U.S. courses finished with a record-setting number of rounds for the third straight year.
The industry’s pre-pandemic era record for rounds was set in 2000, when there were about 2,000 more golf courses than exist today. That mark was topped in 2021 and again surpassed in 2023, 2024 and 2025 as golf has thrived as a popular pastime for players of all ages.
In addition to its heightened popularity, public perceptions of the game have vastly improved, the weather has generally been favorable in recent years, and emerging technologies have enabled both golfers and operators to more efficiently find and fill tee times.
Six months in, the data point to a market that has found its balance. New course openings, though still limited, are at their highest point since 2013, suggesting the industry is responding to sustained demand without overbuilding.
Barring any unforeseen disruptions during the second half of the year – severe weather, economic shocks, or other global events — 2026 is well-positioned to be another record year for U.S. rounds played.
