Golf course operators are becoming increasingly concerned about the rising cost of playing, even as many facilities continue to increase their prices.
Research from the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) reveals growing pressure on golf course businesses, alongside changing attitudes toward tee-time bookings and course accessibility.
The association’s 2026 Golf Business Pulse Report, released July 1, surveyed more than 200 golf facility owners and operators, with additional golfer tracking research providing further context.
The findings suggest that managing a profitable golf facility while keeping the game accessible is becoming a more difficult balancing act.
Golf Course Owners Are Worried About Rising Green Fees
One of the most significant findings concerns the affordability of golf.
According to MyGolfSpy’s October 14 analysis of the NGCOA research, 90 percent of surveyed golf course operators raised their rates during the previous year.
Despite those increases, 72 percent expressed concern that the golf industry could push prices too high.
That reflects a growing tension between the cost of operating golf facilities and the prices golfers are expected to pay.
Labor, equipment, maintenance and other operating expenses continue to influence decisions about green fees.
The same reporting indicated that 96 percent of operators expected their operating costs to rise again during 2026.
The challenge is particularly important for public-access courses serving golfers who cannot justify premium resort or private-club prices.
According to MyGolfSpy’s analysis, 70 percent of surveyed owners were concerned that rising costs could price golfers out of the lower end of the market.
Tee-Time Deposits Reveal an Interesting Difference
Another notable finding concerns advance payments when reserving tee times.
MyGolfSpy reported that only 15 percent of surveyed golf course operators currently required a nonrefundable deposit when golfers booked a round.
A further four percent planned to introduce that requirement during the season.
However, separate golfer tracking research conducted by Sports and Leisure Research Group found that 74 percent of surveyed golfers were comfortable paying an advance deposit to secure a tee time.
The figures measure different things and should not be directly compared as identical questions.
The golfer survey measured willingness to pay an advance deposit, while the operator survey measured the adoption of nonrefundable deposits.
Nevertheless, the results suggest there may be room for courses to explore booking arrangements that protect revenue without automatically increasing green fees.
For golfers, deposit policies can offer greater booking certainty but also introduce financial risks when plans change.
Clear cancellation terms, refund conditions and weather policies are therefore essential considerations when reserving a round.
Golf Courses Are Paying More Attention to Forward Tees
Affordability is not the only issue gaining attention.
Golf course operators are also reconsidering how their layouts accommodate players with different abilities and driving distances.
In its October 1 coverage of the NGCOA report, MyGolfSpy found that more than 70 percent of surveyed owners agreed that courses need additional forward-tee options.
The percentage rating shorter tee options as very important increased from 22 percent in 2025 to 32 percent in 2026.
Only 11 percent placed the same level of importance on adding longer tee options.
Forward tees can make courses more accessible to players with slower swing speeds, beginners and golfers who prefer shorter playing distances.
However, improving these facilities can require investment.
New teeing grounds need suitable locations, maintenance and proper integration into the existing course design.
An alternative is offering combination tees that allow golfers to play different tee boxes on different holes.
The objective is to make selecting an appropriate course length easier rather than simply adding yardage options.
Why Golf Course Operators Face Difficult Decisions
The NGCOA research highlights several competing priorities.
Golf course businesses need enough revenue to maintain playing conditions, invest in facilities and retain employees.
At the same time, golfers want a worthwhile experience at a price they consider reasonable.
Those priorities are not necessarily incompatible, but operators may have to make difficult choices about pricing and investment.
Raising green fees can provide additional revenue, but frequent increases risk making regular golf less affordable for some customers.
Introducing deposits could help reduce lost revenue from unused reservations, but restrictive cancellation policies might discourage bookings.
Adding shorter tees could improve accessibility, but the improvements require resources that some facilities may struggle to provide.
Each decision carries consequences for both golfers and businesses.
What These Findings Mean for Everyday Golfers
For golfers, the practical message is to evaluate more than the advertised green fee when choosing a course.
Booking flexibility, cancellation policies, suitable teeing options and the overall playing experience can matter just as much as the headline price.
Golfers comparing public courses should check what their green fee includes, whether deposits are refundable and whether the course offers tee boxes appropriate to their abilities.
For an example of how public-course prices vary by facility and season, see our MadKnows guide to Tucson golf courses and green fees.
The larger issue is whether golf facilities can meet changing customer expectations while remaining financially sustainable.
Will Golf Become More Expensive?
The NGCOA report does not establish what every golf course will charge in the coming months.
Its findings reflect the expectations, experiences and concerns of surveyed operators rather than a complete measurement of the prices paid by every golfer.
Still, the research identifies a significant challenge for the industry.
Operators are looking for ways to control rising expenses while adapting to changing expectations surrounding affordability, reservations and the playing experience.
For golfers, those decisions could influence not only how much a round costs, but also how convenient and enjoyable it is to play.
The future of accessible golf may depend as much on how courses respond to golfers’ needs as on the green fees they charge.