Anyone waiting for signs of a decline in the surging popularity of golf will have to wait a little longer.
After a nearly 20-percent gain in year-over-year rounds played in January, golfer demand was up by an additional 5 percent nationwide in February, compared with the same month in 2025, according to the Golf Datatech Monthly Rounds Played report.
To date, nationwide demand is up by 11 percent compared with the first two months ’26, according to the report.
February statistics were buoyed by an increase in play in 18 states, with triple-digit gains in Washington, where play was up by 140 percent, Illinois (127 percent) and Colorado (117 percent).
Play was down in 11 states, and numbers were not available for 20 states in offseason status.
For the year, year-over-year rounds played are up in 19 states, thanks to a strong performance in January.
Leading the way so far in 2026 is Illinois, where play is up by 195 percent through the first two months of the year, followed by Colorado (159 percent).
Gains were identical between public-access and private facilities, with each recording gains nationwide of 5 percent in February and 11 percent year-to-date.
