Participating facilities receive complimentary access to the GolfClubBenchmarks.com Performance Intelligence Platform
CHICAGO, Illinois — Greenlight Advisors, with the support of its strategic industry partners — National Golf Foundation, National Golf Course Owners Association, and International Association of Golf Administrators — have announced that registration is now open for the 2026 U.S. Golf Study, a nationwide performance intelligence and benchmarking initiative designed to help golf facilities improve financial performance, operational efficiency, capital asset stewardship, and player experience through confidential benchmarking, trusted data, and actionable industry intelligence.
The strategic industry alliance reflects a unified commitment to advancing data-driven decision-making throughout the golf industry. Golf facilities must register by Aug. 15.
Participation is complimentary, requires approximately 1–2 hours to complete using our standardized data collection template, and provides each participating facility with confidential benchmark reports, performance intelligence, and practical business insights designed to help improve financial performance, operational effectiveness, and long-term strategic decision-making.
Unlike traditional industry surveys, the 2026 U.S. Golf Study is designed as an ongoing collaborative intelligence initiative—providing participating facilities with immediate business value while continuously expanding the industry’s shared knowledge through GolfClubBenchmarks.com’s collaborative business intelligence platform.
Public-Municipal, Public-Daily Fee, and Resort golf facilities are invited to participate.
Sign up at signup.golfclubbenchmarks.com
Why golf facilities are participating
Every participating golf facility receives complimentary access to valuable benchmarking and performance intelligence benefits, including:
- Complimentary Essentials Membership to GolfClubBenchmarks.com
- Best-in-Class Report Card
- The Final 2026 U.S. National Golf Study Benchmark Report
- Executive Dashboards and Performance Insights
- Year-over-Year Performance Comparisons
- Aggregated Industry Intelligence and Best Practices
Beyond receiving benchmark reports, participating golf facilities gain actionable business intelligence to make better decisions. The 2026 U.S. Golf Study helps operators identify areas of underperformance, compare financial, labor, maintenance, and operational efficiency against similar facilities, prioritize capital investment, and enhance the overall player experience.
The result is practical, data-driven insight that supports stronger financial performance, more effective resource allocation, and continuous operational improvement.
All participant information remains strictly confidential. Individual facility data is never shared. All published results are aggregated and anonymized to protect participant confidentiality while delivering meaningful industry intelligence.
Join the National Golf Intelligence Network
When you participate in the 2026 U.S. Golf Study, you become part of a distinguished network of the golf industry’s leading municipalities, management companies, associations, and strategic partners working together to establish the future standard for golf performance intelligence.
Participating Municipal Golf Systems
- City and County of Denver
- City of Atlanta
- City of Cincinnati
- Chicago Park District
- Forest Preserves of Cook County
- Montgomery County Revenue Authority
- Salt Lake City Golf
- City of San Antonio
- Louisville Parks & Recreation
- Palm Beach County Golf
- City of Madison
- City of Wichita
Participating Golf Management Partners
- Troon
- Landscapes Golf Management
- American Golf
- Spirit Golf Management
Participating National Strategic Partners
- National Golf Foundation
- National Golf Course Owners Association
- International Association of Golf Administrators
Together, these municipalities, management companies, and industry organizations represent hundreds of golf facilities across the United States and share a commitment to confidential benchmarking, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Every participating golf facility strengthens the value of the industry’s collective performance intelligence and contributes to a growing body of best practices that benefits the entire golf industry.
The 2026 U.S. Golf Study enables participating facilities to confidentially compare their financial and operational performance with similar golf operations throughout the United States while contributing to a growing body of industry intelligence that benefits the entire golf community.
The study measures performance across four integrated pillars that provide golf facilities with a comprehensive framework for evaluating and improving business performance.
- Financial Performance
Revenue growth, profitability, departmental performance, labor efficiency, golf course maintenance, pricing, and key financial and operational performance indicators.
- Operational Performance
Golf operations, rounds, utilization, staffing, maintenance practices, and operating efficiency.
- Capital Asset Stewardship
Investment in golf course infrastructure, equipment, facilities, deferred maintenance, and long-term asset sustainability.
- Player Experience & Engagement
Customer satisfaction, loyalty, service quality, and player feedback, enhanced through the study’s strategic technology partnership with Players 1st.
Industry Leaders Support the Initiative
“This isn’t simply Greenlight conducting another industry study,” said Michael Suglich, Founder and CEO of Greenlight Advisors. “It’s the golf industry working together to establish meaningful performance intelligence that helps facilities make better decisions. Our role is to provide the trusted platform, analytics, and expertise that transform confidential industry data into actionable insights.” — Michael A. Suglich, CPA, Founder & CEO, Greenlight Advisors
“Meaningful benchmarking helps golf course owners and operators better understand their business, identify opportunities, and improve performance. We are pleased to support this collaborative industry initiative.” — Jay Karen, CEO, National Golf Course Owners Association
“At NGF, we believe better decisions begin with better data. The 2026 U.S. Golf Study complements our existing industry research by providing participating facilities with confidential operational benchmarking while contributing to a deeper understanding of the business of golf. We’re pleased to support an initiative that advances data-driven decision-making across the industry.” — Greg Nathan, President & CEO, National Golf Foundation
“The 2026 U.S. Golf Study aligns closely with IAGA’s mission to connect and empower association leaders through shared knowledge and collaboration. By joining with the PGA of America, NGF, NGCOA, and Greenlight Advisors, we are helping deliver meaningful business intelligence and benchmarking that will help golf facilities and associations make better decisions.” — Bill Walker, Executive Director, IAGA
Become Part of Golf’s Largest Collaborative Performance Intelligence Initiative. Participation is complimentary.
Early registration provides participants with ample time to prepare for the study and ensures inclusion in the 2026 national benchmark.