Downgrain Labs has completed the most comprehensive analysis ever conducted on golf course ownership in the United States. By combining public property records, corporate filings, facility websites, news archives, and direct outreach, we built a verified ownership profile for more than thirteen thousand golf facilities nationwide. The data reveals a golf landscape that looks nothing like the traditional country club stereotype that has dominated public perception for decades.
The Country Club Myth Is Not Reality
Our research shows that member owned country clubs account for only 23 percent of all golf facilities in the United States. This means most golfers do not belong to private clubs and do not experience golf in a private club environment. Fewer than 45 percent of American golfers are playing golf in facilities that resemble the classic country club image that has shaped the public narrative for generations.
Golf in America is primarily a public facing activity, accessible through daily fee courses, municipal facilities, community owned courses, and family operated businesses. The stereotype is the minority experience, not the norm.
The True Ownership Structure of U.S. Golf
The Downgrain Labs dataset shows that golf course ownership in America is far more distributed than previously understood. Ownership is not concentrated in large corporations or elite private clubs. Instead, the sport is shaped by a broad mix of individuals, families, municipalities, and decentralized community structures.
Here is how ownership actually breaks down across the 13,297 facilities we analyzed:
- Family or Individual Ownership: 4,040 facilities
This is the single largest group. Most of these are public or pay to play facilities operated as small businesses. Golf in America is supported heavily by private citizens and families who run their courses as community resources and entrepreneurial ventures. - Member Owned Clubs: 3,087 facilities
These clubs represent the traditional country club model, owned collectively by their members. - Municipal and Government Ownership: 2,910 facilities
Cities, counties, park districts, and state agencies operate nearly a quarter of all courses. These facilities provide critical access to golf as a public good. - Corporate Ownership: 2,139 facilities
Only a minority of American golf courses are controlled by companies or investment groups. Corporate ownership receives a disproportionate amount of industry attention relative to its actual share of the course landscape. - Community Associations: 601 facilities
Residential developments, HOAs, and POAs make up a meaningful portion of local golf access. - Charitable Organizations: 191 facilities
Non profits, foundations, and mission driven groups maintain courses that support youth programs, community development, and philanthropic goals. - University and Educational Institutions: 129 facilities
These include practice facilities and full courses owned by colleges and school districts. - Military: 112 facilities
Golf remains part of the recreational ecosystem on military bases across the country. - Tribal Nations: 88 facilities
Federally recognized tribes own economically and culturally significant golf destinations.
Read the Full White Paper
This article highlights only the Downgrain Labs findings that powered the research. To explore the complete analysis, including broader implications for golfer behavior and marketing strategy, you can read the full white paper in partnership with Gather below.