An Immersion Into Current and Future Trends Impacting Golf Facility Operations
NGCOA has released the 2026 Golf Business Pulse Report – sponsored by Pepsi, once again developed and produced in partnership with Sports and Leisure Research Group. This insightful publication examines emerging trends and critical issues shaping the year ahead, provides a macro perspective on the state of golf course operations, and offers a deeper analysis of three key operating areas: Operations, Agronomy and Marketing.
This year's report incorporates perspectives gathered through in-depth interviews with NGCOA members, along with a comprehensive survey of hundreds of golf course owners and operators exploring the opportunities, challenges and trends influencing the industry. Readers will once again find year-over-year trend analysis, highlighting notable shifts in sentiment, priorities and business performance.
The findings reveal owner and operator perspectives on the industry's most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities, while measuring their impact on golf facility performance and long-term success. The report explores topics including technology adoption, labor, inflation, automation, gamification, capital investment, food and beverage strategy, and more—taking a deeper look at not only the trends golf course owners and operators are embracing, but also the complex challenges they continue to navigate.