Slight recovery in golf course revenue and visitor numbers

「Adverse weather and extreme heat since June, together with elevated playing fees caused by higher fuel and other costs, have resulted in a slight downward trend in golf course users.」

「In the golf business environment, golf course users have been trending slightly lower, affected by relatively favorable weather in May but unsettled weather and extreme heat from June, as well as persistently high fees due to higher fuel costs and other factors (survey by the Japan Golf Course Owners Association).」

「In the golf business environment, adverse weather and higher fuel costs have kept playing fees elevated, while the aging of golfers has also had an impact, and the number of golf course users has been trending slightly downward.」

「Although total golf course visits nationwide, including tax-exempt users such as those aged 70 and over, remained below the fiscal 1992 peak of 102.32 million, they declined slightly from 91.29 million in fiscal 2022, up 1.8% from the previous fiscal year, to 89.68 million in fiscal 2023, down 1.8%, and 87.50 million in fiscal 2024, down 2.4%.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, the increase in golf course users during the COVID-19 pandemic has turned to a gradual decline after peaking in fiscal 2022. Persistently high per-round fees resulting from higher fuel costs and weather-related factors, including record-high temperatures from June onward, led to a slight downward trend in golf course users during the interim consolidated accounting period.」

「Golf course users declined 2.5% year on year in May and increased 2.7% in June (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Survey of Selected Service Industries). User numbers, particularly on weekends and public holidays, have been on a slight downward trend because per-round fees have remained elevated due to higher fuel costs and other factors, although golf is still thought to be supported by many golfers as an accessible leisure activity.」

「Golf course revenue declined 3.6% year on year in February and 2.3% in March. Golf course users declined 4.3% in February and 8.0% in March (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Survey of Selected Service Industries).」

「Golf course revenue declined 3.3% year on year in October, increased 1.3% in November and declined 6.0% in December. Golf course users declined 4.5% in October and 1.7% in November before increasing 4.6% in December, raising concerns about the future trend.」

「Golf course users increased 0.6% year on year in July, declined 4.5% in August and increased 1.9% in September. Golf course revenue remained firm, increasing 5.1% in July, 1.9% in August and 7.8% in September. Per-round fees remained elevated, mainly due to higher raw material costs and other factors.」

「Golf course users declined 4.8% year on year in May and 3.0% in June (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Survey of Selected Service Industries). The slight decline in users is thought to have reflected persistently high golf fees resulting from higher fuel costs and the recovery of leisure options to levels comparable with those before the spread of COVID-19.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, golf course users increased 5.0% year on year in February and 3.1% in March (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Survey of Selected Service Industries). User numbers remained firm because monthly precipitation was low nationwide and average monthly temperatures were high in February and March. As socioeconomic activity normalized, bookings by group customers for large-group events and competitions were returning to pre-COVID-19 levels.」

「Golf course revenue remained broadly firm, increasing 7.2% year on year in October and 1.8% in November before declining 4.0% in December. Golf course users increased 1.5% in October, declined 2.0% in November and 8.4% in December, raising concerns about the future trend.」

「Golf course users increased 0.5% year on year in July, 7.7% in August and declined 0.7% in September, while golf course revenue remained firm, increasing 6.5% in July, 12.7% in August and 7.6% in September (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Survey of Selected Service Industries). Golf continues to be supported as an outdoor sport that allows people to avoid crowded conditions.」

「In addition, Japan entered its first early summer in 3 years without restrictions on activities, and small- and medium-sized competitions began to be held more frequently. As a result, golf course users increased 12.6% year on year in May and 7.4% in June, remaining firm.」

「Golf course users fell 8.6% year on year in February and increased 1.7% in March. In February, record heavy snowfall and snow accumulation occurred on the Sea of Japan side and inland, while strong cold air brought low average monthly temperatures, resulting in continued severe weather for playing golf. From March onward, weather conditions were generally favorable and user numbers remained firm.」

「However, as golf came to be recognized as a leisure activity with a low risk of infection, active use by small groups, mainly individuals, provided support. Golf course users increased 8.6% year on year in October, 1.7% in November and 2.8% in December, resulting in a 12.5% increase for the full year and exceeding the previous year's level.」

「Golf course users increased 15.5% year on year in July, declined 10.8% in August and increased 5.4% in September.」

「Golf course users increased 30.8% year on year in May and 18.0% in June (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Survey of Selected Service Industries). In addition, the Japanese women's golf team attracted attention at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games by winning the silver medal, bringing positive news to the golf industry, and this is expected to heighten interest in golf among recreational golfers.」

「Benefiting from relatively mild weather, the number of golf course users increased 3.7% year on year in February and 8.6% in March (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Current Survey of Selected Service Industries).」

「Golf course users began to recover after the state of emergency was lifted in May 2020, exceeding the previous year's level for 3 consecutive months from October 2020.」

「Although bookings for large-group events and competitions declined as COVID-19 spread, use by small groups, mainly individuals, was on an upward trend. Golf course users were down 9.2% year on year in July, up 10.0% in August and down 6.5% in September.」

「Golf course users were down 37.7% year on year in April, 31.8% in May, and 19.6% in June. ... July was then adversely affected by nationwide abnormal weather, including record heavy rainfall and insufficient sunlight, such as that caused by the July 2020 torrential rains in Japan.」

「However, as COVID-19 infections spread in Japan, group event plans were canceled and group customers canceled their bookings one after another, resulting in a 10.1% decline in March. (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Survey of Selected Service Industries.) The figure is thought to have declined further in April following the declaration of a state of emergency, leaving the outlook for companies associated with the golf industry uncertain.」

「Golf course revenue and user numbers remained relatively firm during the first half of the fiscal year, but were significantly affected by unfavorable weather from September onward.」

「As weather was relatively stable nationwide, golf course revenue and the number of users remained broadly flat at 100% of the year-earlier period, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Current Survey of Selected Service Industries.」

「As weather conditions were relatively mild throughout the period, golf course users recovered year on year, increasing 9.8% in February and 5.8% in March.」

「The number of domestic golf course users in 2018 was 8.93 million, down 4.8% from the previous year.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, the number of domestic golf course users from July to September 2018 was 2,424 thousand, down 13.7% year on year. This is thought to have been significantly affected by the extreme heat, torrential rain and typhoons.」

「Golf course revenue exceeded the previous year from April 2017 to March 2018, indicating some signs of recovery (based on the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Survey of Selected Service Industries), among other factors.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding the golf business, although Japan's golf population continues to decline, an increase in the number of rounds played by golfers in their 60s and 70s has provided support, limiting the decline in golf course users to a slight decrease from the previous year.」

「Golf course revenue and visitor numbers compared with the same months of the previous year were 99.2% and 100.1%, respectively, in May, and 104.6% and 104.4%, respectively, in June. In particular, weekday golf course revenue and visitor numbers were 107.4% and 106.5%, respectively, in May, and 106.4% and 105.9%, respectively, in June, indicating a slight recovery trend (source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Current Survey of Selected Service Industries).」