The NGF notes that 58 of the 128 golf facilities ( 45.3 %) have a driving range with at least 10 tee stations . Maine also has 6 stand-alone driving range facilities of varying size that averaged $ 50,000 in revenue , and 13 golf simulator venues generating an average of $ 25,000 per location . Utilizing these findings , the statewide revenue from direct golf facility operations is estimated as follows :
Total Golf Facility Revenue Summary – State of Maine ( 2023 )
Type of Revenue Total ($ Millions ) % of Total
Golf Playing Fees $ 42.0 28.6 % Membership Dues $ 48.5 33.1 % Retail Sales * $ 13.6 9.3 % Restaurant $ 35.1 23.9 % Lessons $ 1.1 0.7 %
Other ( clubhouse , banquets , etc .)
* Includes revenue from stand-alone ranges and golf simulators
KEY TAKEAWAYS :
$ 3.3 2.3 %
Driving Ranges * $ 2.3 2.0 % TOTAL REVENUES $ 146.0 100 %
³ Total average revenue per golf facility is $ 1.14 million in 2023 .
³ Maine golf facilities employed an estimated 3,680 persons in 2023 ( 2,800 part-time and 880 full-time ).
³ NGF custom survey research in 2024 indicates that the golf courses in Maine hosted a total of 2.2 million rounds of golf , or approximately 23,000 rounds per 18-hole equivalent facilities . This volume of golf activity is relatively strong given the State ’ s climate and short golf season . The total U . S . averages 30,615 rounds per 18 holes in 2023 across all climates . The facilities surveyed by NGF in 2024 estimated that approximately 73.5 % of these rounds emanated from inside Maine , while the remaining 26.5 % ( 581,000 + million rounds ) came from outside the State ( tourists and visitors ).
APPROACH
What is Measured
Golf Facility revenue includes all receipts generated from green fees , cart fees , membership fees and initiation fees , as well as ancillary purchases at the golf course facility such as merchandise , food and beverage , banquets and other items . The revenue collected from all of these sources is assumed to be the basis for all expenditures required to operate the facility .
How it ’ s Measured
Golf facility 2023 revenue data comes from NGF ’ s 2024 Maine golf facility survey , which collected data on reported revenues by type for each of the six classes of golf facilities . The revenues generated from driving ranges was applied to only those golf facilities that had a driving range with at least 10 tee stations on site ( 58 of the 128 facilities ), plus additional revenue assumed for 6 stand-alone ranges and 13 defined golf simulator locations in the State .
³ The average revenue from green , cart and membership fees in the State was $ 41.27 per round of golf , plus additional revenue from ancillary items such as driving range ($ 1.05 ), total F & B ($ 16.02 ), pro shop merchandise ($ 6.21 ) and other items / lessons ($ 2.01 ). This data supports the affordability of golf in Maine as the state ’ s golf facilities show lower revenues per round for golf fees and memberships ($ 41.27 in ME and $ 49.45 in U . S .), with other revenues comparable to the national average .
The Contributions of Golf to the State of Maine | 2023 Impact Report 17