Greenlight Advisors and NGCOA release Exclusive 2024 Municipal Golf Study and Ongoing Benchmark Report
June 9, 2025
Greenlight Advisors, in partnership with the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), has released their Exclusive 2024 Municipal Golf Study and Ongoing Benchmark Report.
Hundreds of municipal golf course operators from across the country participated in the study. The major cities and counties joining the study included Salt Lake City, Chicago, Cook County, Buffalo, Palm Beach County, Boca Raton, Orlando, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, Tacoma, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Montgomery County, Birmingham, Charleston, Wichita, Durango, Cincinnati, Fond du Lac, Racine, Phoenix, Sacramento and many others. Additional industry support and participation was provided by Troon and Landscapes Golf Management.
For participating, each course received a confidential online “Best-in-Class Report Card™,” evaluating their financial and operational performance against the industry benchmarks. In addition, each course received Greenlight Advisor’s comprehensive thirty-page “Exclusive 2024 Municipal Golf Study and Ongoing Benchmark Report.” The Report highlights each Best-in-Class metric as Top Quartile, Median, or Bottom Quartile, providing valuable insights into how each course compares to similar operations and highlighting potential areas for improvement.
Michael A. Suglich, CPA, Founding Partner of Greenlight Advisors, emphasized the collaborative nature of this endeavor. Says Suglich, “Greenlight Advisors is thrilled to partner with the NGCOA to promote collaboration and education of municipal golf course operators and the sharing of key financial and operational data for the benefit of all.” Suglich, who has provided Fintech consulting services for over 35 years, clearly has a heart for municipal golf and the head for how to get Muni operators the information they need to thrive. Notes Suglich, “The study will certainly help us raise awareness about our GolfClubBenchmarks.com service, and by extension, this will allow us to give back to the municipal golf industry, our Muni Mission.”
Jay Karen, CEO of the NGCOA, echoed this sentiment, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with Greenlight Advisors to bring meaningful data to the nation’s 2,500 municipal golf courses to help them make super-informed management decisions.”
This initiative underscores the NGCOA’s commitment to supporting municipal golf operators. In October 2024, the association expanded its services to better cater to this segment by launching the “Muni Community.” This community provides resources, education, networking, and communication platforms tailored to the needs of municipal facilities. It includes access to benchmarking resources, member-led discussion groups, and dedicated educational tracks at industry conferences.
By participating in the 2024 Municipal Golf Study, municipal golf course operators had the opportunity to gain actionable insights, engage in educational forums, and join a community dedicated to the advancement of municipal golf. This collaborative effort provides a powerful tool to help ensure the long-term success and sustainability of municipal golf courses across the nation, which in turn will benefit the entire golf industry.
If you are a municipal course operator and are interested in learning more, please join at https://signup.golfclubbenchmarks.com/ and be a part of the conversation.
Key Aspects of the 2024 Municipal Golf Study:
Comprehensive Analysis:
The study evaluates various financial and operational metrics, comparing them against regional and national averages.Best-in-Class Report Card™:
Participants receive a detailed report card that categorizes their performance as Top Quartile, Median, or Bottom Quartile, highlighting areas for improvement.Informed Decision-Making:
The study provides data-driven insights that help operators reassess their business strategies and make informed adjustments to optimize performance.Industry Collaboration:
The study is a collaborative effort between Greenlight Advisors, the NGCOA, and golf industry leaders, demonstrating a commitment to sharing data for the betterment of the industry.Participation:
Municipal, state, and federal golf courses are invited to participate in the study, which offers valuable insights for all involved.
How the Study Works:
Data Collection:
Greenlight Advisors, a financial technology firm, confidentially gathers data from participating municipal golf courses.Benchmarking:
The data is analyzed and benchmarked against regional and overall industry standards, creating a clear picture of each course’s performance.Report Generation:
Participants receive a detailed report card outlining their performance in relation to industry benchmarks.Actionable Insights:
The report highlights areas of strength and areas for improvement, providing operators with actionable insights to optimize their operations.
About Greenlight Advisors and GolfClubBenchmarks.com
Greenlight Advisors pioneered benchmarking for municipal golf course operators in 2023 when they confidentially gathered data from hundreds of municipal golf courses across the United States and published the first ever municipal golf operators benchmarking study. We pride ourselves on empowering golf course operators to make informed decisions through a critical analysis of their data, helping them easily identify areas for improvement, and enhancing service delivery to their communities. For more information or to join, visit https://signup.golfclubbenchmarks.com/ and join our Muni Mission. To learn more about Greenlight Advisors and their strategic partnerships with the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), Troon and Landscapes Golf Management, please visit https://golfclubbenchmarks.com/press/.
About The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA)
The NGCOA is the leading authority on the business of golf course ownership and management. The association represents and promotes the interests of golf courses as the principal businesses and economic assets of the game of golf. The not-for-profit organization is the only trade association dedicated exclusively to golf course owners and operators. Through advocacy, education, and information resources, purchasing programs and networking opportunities, the NGCOA helps golf course owners and operators run more successful businesses.
For more information or to join, visit ngcoa.org or call 800-933-4262. NGCOA Muni Community: https://www.ngcoa.org/membership/join/muni-community