May 28, 2025 - Sports

Cleveland swings to No. 1 in national golf boom

Sam Allard

Illustration of a giant golf ball on a tiny tee. — Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Cleveland had the highest year-over-year change in total golf rounds played in 2024, according to National Golf Foundation research.

By the numbers: Among approximately 50 metro areas actively tracked by the nonprofit trade association, Cleveland was in first place by a long shot, with an increase of 13%.

That comes on the heels of 2023, when total rounds grew in Cleveland by 8%.

What they're saying: This was in part due to Northeast Ohio's favorable weather last year and an extended golf season, per NFG editorial director Erik Matuszewski.

"Ohio in 2024 had the warmest year on record per the NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, and slightly below average precipitation," he tells Axios.

The big picture: Golf exploded in popularity during the pandemic as the official sport of social distancing and continued to boom in the era of remote work.

⛳️ Sam's thought bubble: Prices have risen as weekend tee times become harder to reserve, but 18 holes at a public course in Northeast Ohio is still a bargain compared to other major metros.

Go deeper: The 10 best golf courses within an hour of Cleveland

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Cleveland swings to No. 1 in national golf boom

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