GBR Weekly | How Short Courses Increase Rounds, Engagement and On-Site Spend
Connecting the dots across golf’s business, media, and professional landscape.
Good morning, GBR community,
Is golf’s popularity slowing down?
The encouraging answer is no after reading the latest National Golf Federation report, which indicates that the U.S. is on course to post its fourth record year in the last five.
The interesting point is that, according to the NGF findings, the growth is being driven by the private club sector, with some really positive growth numbers.
The NGF story tags on with our big read piece, which looks at how short-format golf is driving growth in the game. The growing trend of creating nine and twelve-hole layouts is not only time-friendly for golfers but also has a positive impact on club revenue.
Lastly, want to raise your profile as a coach on social media? Instagram is where you’ll have the most success, according to the Proponent Group.
Enjoy your weekend and this week’s edition of GBR.
PRIVATE CLUB GOLF SURGE POISED TO DRIVE INDUSTRY TO ANOTHER RECORD YEAR
The U.S. golf industry is on pace to post its fourth record year for rounds played in five years, and this time it’s the private club sector leading the charge. According to the latest National Golf Foundation data through September 2025, private golf play is up more than 5% year-over-year, compared with just a 1% increase at public courses. The pattern has been consistent across the season — with private rounds rising 9% in August and 6% in July, outpacing public play in every month so far this year. Although 75% of U.S. golf courses are public and account for roughly 80% of total rounds, the surge at private facilities is proving decisive in pushing national totals to new highs.
Industry analysts suggest the demand underscores a growing appetite for exclusivity and experience-driven golf. Private clubs now account for over half of all new course development, a disproportionate share given their smaller overall footprint. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. golf facilities report operating at or near full capacity, with private venues the most stretched. “The surge in private play isn’t just a blip,” the NGF noted. “It’s helping power golf’s continued growth and could be the key to sustaining the game’s momentum into 2026 and beyond.”
INSTAGRAM DRIVES NEW STUDENT GROWTH FOR GOLF INSTRUCTORS
A new Proponent Group survey has found that Instagram dominates as the most effective social media platform for golf instructors, with 89% of coaches using it and 61% citing it as their top source of new student inquiries. Facebook ranked a distant second at 12%, followed by YouTube (3%). The survey, which polled 49 member coaches across the U.S., also showed that 44% use LinkedIn, 21% use X (formerly Twitter), and 13% have ventured onto TikTok. Posting frequency among instructors averaged once a week, with 17% reporting they “regularly” gain new students from social activity and 52% saying they do “every now and then.”
The findings highlight both the growing importance — and complexity — of social media as a marketing tool for teaching professionals. “Golf coaches are tasked with performing their core function while navigating constantly changing platforms and algorithms,” the Proponent Group noted. To support its members, the organisation plans to expand its webinars, best-practice guides, and expert sessions through 2026, addressing key questions raised by respondents, including: how to edit video efficiently, what content lengths perform best, and how to handle privacy restrictions at private clubs. The full results will inform Proponent Group’s ongoing research into digital marketing strategies for golf instructors in the year ahead. Further findings on the Proponent Group study on social media can be found here.
U.S. ELECTRIC GOLF CART MARKET SET TO SURGE TO $354.9 MILLION BY 2035
The U.S. electric golf cart market is projected to grow from $228.5 million in 2025 to $354.9 million by 2035, reflecting a 4.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), according to a new report by Future Market Insights. Growth is being fueled by the technology’s rapid evolution from course-side transport to a mainstream mobility solution across retirement communities, university campuses, resorts, and industrial parks. Lithium-ion batteries, off-road capabilities, and connected dashboards are driving adoption among both commercial and residential users.
Key market trends include:
Broader applications: Electric carts are increasingly used for recreation, last-mile transport, and community mobility.
Technology upgrades: Lithium-ion powertrains, solar charging, and app-based fleet management enhance range, efficiency, and usability.
Regional hotspots: Florida (4.7% CAGR), Texas (4.8%), and California (4.6%) lead demand, driven by year-round golf, sustainable communities, and resort expansion.
“Electric mobility is no longer limited to the golf course,” the report notes, “it’s becoming part of everyday life in America’s gated, resort, and urban communities.” Market leaders Club Car, E-Z-GO, and Yamaha continue to dominate, while niche brands like Garia and Columbia Vehicle Group target luxury and utility segments. With rising environmental awareness and demand for personalized, connected vehicles, analysts expect electric golf carts to remain one of the fastest-growing categories in light electric transport through 2035. The full report can be purchased here.
NOTEEFY LAUNCHES FIRST LEAD MANAGEMENT PLATFORM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR GOLF RESORTS
Noteefy has launched Noteefy Lead Management, the industry’s first lead management platform built exclusively for golf and stay-and-play resorts, now live at several Top 50 Resorts, including Destination Kohler in Wisconsin. The platform replaces traditional spreadsheets and inbox-based tracking with a unified system that automates follow-ups, consolidates guest inquiries, and provides real-time visibility into every revenue opportunity.
The new Noteefy Lead Management system is advertised to provide resorts with:
Centralized all lead data from web forms, phone calls, and partner channels into one dashboard.
Automate personalized follow-ups based on travel details, group size, and budget.
Use AI-driven insights to identify booking gaps and optimize occupancy.
Track conversion performance and revenue in real time.
“Noteefy’s Lead Management tool has unlocked a dynamic new way for guests to engage with Kohler,” said Mike O’Reilly, General Manager of Whistling Straits & Blackwolf Run. “It enables seamless, anytime inquiries while preserving the personalized service that defines the Kohler experience.”
Co-developed with resort partners through 2025, the system reflects Noteefy’s expanding focus on AI-powered revenue optimization and hospitality intelligence. “Our goal is to help resorts more effectively manage supply and demand while enhancing guest satisfaction,” said Jake Gordon, Co-Founder and CEO of Noteefy. “Lead Management extends our mission beyond tee times, creating a more connected and data-driven guest journey.” More details of the new Noteefy Lead Management system can be found here.
PING GOLF EUROPE JOINS UK GOLF FEDERATION AS CORPORATE PARTNER TO DRIVE GRASSROOTS GROWTH
The UK Golf Federation has announced a new partnership with PING Golf Europe. A central element of the partnership is the PING Junior Golf Tour, a nationwide series offering fun, inclusive competition for young players. The UK Golf Federation will support the tour’s expansion to reach more juniors and independent courses across the country. “PING’s reputation for innovation and integrity aligns perfectly with our mission to support independent golf facilities and grow participation,” said Doug Poole, CEO of the UK Golf Federation. Lisa Lovatt, Managing Director of PING Golf Europe, added: “Supporting golf at the grassroots level has always been central to PING’s values. We’re proud to help the Federation create more opportunities for juniors from all backgrounds to discover and stay in the game.”
As a Corporate Partner, PING will collaborate on promotional campaigns, educational programmes, and industry events, reinforcing both organisations’ shared goal: to make golf more welcoming, connected, and accessible to all.
AGIF CONFIRMS MALAYSIA AS HOST FOR NEXT TWO INTERNATIONAL SUMMITS
The Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) has confirmed that its Annual International Summit will return to Malaysia’s Sime Darby Convention Centre for both 2026 and 2027. Held alongside the LPGA Maybank Championship, the 2025 edition drew more than 140 attendees from 18 countries, featuring 40 speakers across sessions focused on innovation, sustainability, education, demographics, and tourism.
“We’re proud to announce we’ll be back here for the next two years,” said Rishi Narain, AGIF’s Head of Events, Sponsorship and Membership. “Outstanding speakers, a fabulous venue, a glittering awards programme, and networking opportunities, including our first Business Leaders’ Invitational tournament, all contributed to a memorable week.”
AGIF President Chris Gray added that overall attendance nearly doubled from 2024, crediting the summit’s growth to the Federation’s focus on fostering collaboration and advancing the region’s golf industry. “The industry needs a successful, well-supported event where professionals can gather to discuss the state of the game and shape how it progresses,” Narain said, as AGIF looks to expand the Summit’s global reach and influence in the years ahead. Asian Golf Industry Federation.
LIV GOLF AND TRACKMAN ANNOUNCE THREE-YEAR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
LIV Golf has announced a multi-year global partnership with Trackman to deepen fan engagement and elevate its broadcast coverage across the league’s worldwide event schedule. Having already served as LIV Golf’s official ball-tracking partner during the 2025 season, Trackman will continue to provide radar units on all 18 tee boxes and mobile cameras to capture every tee shot in real time. The three-year deal expands the collaboration to include pre-show driving range segments, where fans will see live swing speed, ball flight, and club data from players and teams ahead of competition.
“Trackman’s impact on our broadcast analytics last year immediately leveled up the insights our fans want to see,” said Ross Hallett, LIV Golf’s Executive Vice President and Head of Events. “This partnership will bring LIV Golf fans closer to the action, whether they’re watching on TV, through LIV Golf+, or in hospitality suites around the world.” Trackman CEO and co-founder Klaus Eldrup-Jørgensen added that the partnership “empowers both players and fans with real-time data and insights, bridging the gap between performance and experience.” LIV Golf.
LIV GOLF TO EXPAND TO 72-HOLE FORMAT IN 2026
LIV Golf has confirmed that all events will transition from 54 holes to 72 holes in 2026, aligning the league with traditional tournament formats while maintaining its signature team and individual competitions. The move adds a fourth day of play, typically from Thursday to Sunday, except for LIV Golf Riyadh, which will begin on Wednesday, February 4.
“The move to 72 holes marks a pivotal new chapter for LIV Golf that strengthens our League, challenges our elite field of players, and delivers more of the world-class golf, energy, and access that our global audience wants,” said Scott O’Neil, LIV Golf CEO. Jon Rahm, captain of Legion XIII and reigning Individual Champion, called the change “a win for the League and the players,” adding that it “tests us more fully and delivers more of what the fans want.”
Fellow captain Bryson DeChambeau praised the decision as “a proactive step to align with the historic format recognized globally.” LIV’s signature shotgun starts will remain, ensuring a condensed, fast-paced event experience. The update, part of the League’s wider strategy to strengthen competition and global fan engagement, will take effect across all 14 events in the 2026 season, with final details on the Team Championship format to follow. LIV Golf.
Additional Reading:
Evin Priest’s article for Golf Digest looks at how the move to 72 holes could help LIV Golf’s pursuit of OWGR points.
LPGA AND GOLF SAUDI ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP WITH $4 MILLION ARAMCO CHAMPIONSHIP
The LPGA has announced its first-ever partnership with Golf Saudi, unveiling the Aramco Championship at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas, a $4 million, 120-player co-sanctioned event with the Ladies European Tour (LET), set for March 30–April 5, 2026.
“The Aramco Championship, part of the PIF Global Series, at Shadow Creek reflects exactly where we’re headed in building the global schedule for our tour,” said Craig Kessler, LPGA Commissioner. “This event checks every box — a spectacular West Coast setting, an iconic course, and a purse that continues our momentum in raising the bar for our athletes.” Kessler added that partnerships like this, built on the LET’s long-standing collaboration with Golf Saudi and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), will “strengthen the women’s game on a global scale and elevate opportunities for our athletes.” Annie Costabile’s Front Office Sports article on the new collaboration can be read here.
The Short-Course Shift: Why 9 and 12 Hole Golf is Quietly Reshaping the Game
Golf is learning to take up less space and less time. Across North America and beyond, a growing number of clubs, resorts, and municipal courses are reshaping how the game is played by building shorter layouts, compact, walkable courses of nine or twelve holes that can be completed in little more than an hour.
What began as a convenience for time-pressed golfers has become something more structural: capital budgets are being reallocated, land-use models are being reconsidered, and the 18-hole round, long treated as the immovable standard of golf, is no longer the default assumption.
A Response to Time, Space, and Changing Participation Patterns
The most immediate catalyst is time. An 18-hole round generally takes anywhere up to 5 hours, without any excursions to the clubhouse post round; many of us cannot allocate that with regularity, given what else goes on in our lives.
A 9-hole round, by contrast, can be completed in 60–90 minutes, and 12 holes in around 90–105 minutes, which is much more manageable.
This shift appears in participation data. According to USGA score posting, nine-hole rounds in the U.S. increased nearly 10% year-on-year in 2024 and more than 40% since 2020 (analysis by MyGolfSpy, March 2025):
Among new women golfers, more than half of all rounds played are nine holes, compared with roughly one-quarter among new men (USGA GHIN data, 2024).
There is evidence to suggest it’s not just women taking up golf who are benefiting from shorter courses. Short formats also lower the barrier to entry for a stronger uptake from juniors and families, who find short courses less intimidating and more social. Governing bodies and operators have leaned into this with product design: flexible tees, loopable routing, and adjacent putting courses that encourage “come as you are” participation.
