The new year – and golf season – are off to a fast start, with the 2026 PGA Show already behind us. What should we expect for the rest of the season? Golf Inc. recently ran a story on the state of golf operations in 2026 with input from multiple industry experts. The overall vibe is extremely positive, if slightly more muted than the explosive growth of the previous five years. As the story says, “Participation remains elevated, private club interest is strong, and capital continues to flow into the sector, but the pace of growth is beginning to level off.” Read the full story to get more details, but the main takeaways are that owners and operators are shifting strategies to focus on loyalty, labor, technology and the long-term value of golfers. The consensus of experts quoted in the story is that demand is stabilizing or plateauing instead of dropping, with a sustainable amount of demand that calls for clear strategies to engage and retain golfers into the future instead of relying on surging demand.
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Now in its second season, the TGL indoor golf league is becoming a mainstay of winter golf TV. There’s something novel about watching tour players hit shots into a giant 53-foot tall simulator-like screen, as the holes being played by competitors are truly unique. The Athletic recently published a story on the designers working on the holes being played, with architects Gil Hanse and Augustin Piza quoted about the methods they used to design holes that didn’t have to exist in the real world. Piza designed the breakout star hole of TGL’s Season 2 with his Stinger layout, which forces players to hit a low running drive – like Tiger Woods’ famed low-iron tee shots – to avoid overhanging rocks. Hanse also talks about how much fun he had designing holes freed from the constraints of the physical world, and how much fun it is to watch players react to the designs. If you grew up playing some of the crazy holes on the Golden Tee arcade game, you’ll understand instantly.
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Chandler Withington, PGA, has experience at the highest levels of golf, having been Head Professional at Minnesota’s Hazeltine National Golf Club for a decade after stops as an assistant at Merion Golf Club and Seminole Golf Club. Withington has since become a prolific artist who creates licensed works for the PGA of America and the USGA, and he has also started a fantastic podcast. The Inward Nine with Chandler Withington has plenty of golf content, including interviews with recent PGA of America national award winners like Scott Paris, Jason Baile, Jason Epstein and James Ondo. The podcast also takes a look at the modern workplace, what it means to be successful and how to win at the game of life with authors, financial experts and a host of PGA of America Golf Professionals. Be sure to check out Episode Zero, in which Withington explains his goals for the podcast and introduces himself to listeners.
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Golf often gets a bad rap on environmental issues, especially water usage. But a new study from the Golf Course Superintendents As so ciation of America (GCSAA) shows that golf courses in the U.S. used 31 percent less water in 2024 than in 2005. A recent story on Golf Business News looked into the survey, which is part of the GCSAA Foundation’s Golf Course Environmental Profile program. Approximately two-thirds of the reduction in water usage came from more efficient operations and practices at golf facilities, with courses in the Southwest and Upper West/Mountain regions leading the way – though there were significant reductions throughout the country. The practices making the biggest difference, according to the survey, were technological advances like handheld moisture sensors and data from onsite weather stations, as well as the use of wetting agents, hand watering and updated irrigation systems. Take a look at the story and be ready to share the data the next time someone makes outdated claims about how golf courses are water hogs.
link: https://bit.ly/452Ey4Q
