Jay Karen, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association, sees reason for optimism but is also aware that change can happen quickly. Courtesy Jay Karen Golf course owners across the country enjoyed another year of strong demand in 2025. The latest U.S. participation numbers show that last year is virtually assured of being the fourth record-setting year for rounds played in the past five. While the figures suggest that the post-COVID participation boom is real, operating a golf course is never without its challenges. Jay Karen, the CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association – a trade organization representing approximately 4,000 public, private and municipal courses across the country – is at the forefront of advocacy for course owners and well-versed in the business issues they face. GGPBiz’s Jim Nugent spoke with Karen to take the temperature of the course industry as 2026 dawns. GGPBiz: Generally speaking, how do golf course owners feel about the coming year? JK: Painting with a broad brush, I’d say the supply side ...