Canadian golfers are staying home, and U.S. golf courses are feeling the impact. Anger over President Donald Trump’s tariffs and rhetoric is causing fewer Canadians to cross the border, creating a major drop in golf rounds at northern U.S. courses. Popular snowbird destinations in Arizona, Florida, and South Carolina could also see reduced traffic this winter.
Scott Delair, general manager of Malone Golf Club in upstate New York, said his club has lost thousands of rounds due to the decline. “One day, I ended up cancelling about 4,400 rounds,” he said. Malone relies heavily on Canadian visitors. Normally, the course sees 7,000 to 8,000 rounds from stay-and-play packages each year. This year, it is on track to host fewer than 1,000.
Delair has tried to attract more golfers from downstate New York, but the results are limited. He predicts revenue will drop about 20% for the year.
Malone isn’t the only course affected. The New York Golf Trail, which includes 26 courses offering multicourse packages, reported a 38% drop in sales. Canadian bookings fell 83%, according to a National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) report. While comprehensive national data is scarce, an NGCOA survey found 88% of members expect Trump’s tariffs on Canada to affect their business.
Jeff Calderwood, CEO of NGCOA Canada, said Canadian reactions run deep. “There’s a strong feeling in Canada that decades of mutual respect are being overlooked,” he said. Data on border crossings and Canadian cellphone use in the U.S. confirm a 24% to 30% drop in Canadian visits.
The financial impact is significant. Canadians who drive across the border typically spend about $1,000 per trip, benefiting New England and New York courses and surrounding communities.
While U.S. courses are struggling, Canadian courses are seeing a boost. Calderwood reported that the Canadian golf industry is likely to end the season slightly stronger than last year. Golf participation in Canada has risen roughly 30% since the pandemic, a period when both U.S. and Canadian courses saw growth.
Canadians are expected to spend about $75 million on golf rounds this year. Demand is high, and revenue growth is exceeding cost increases. However, tariffs are raising the price of goods needed to run Canadian courses, adding pressure on operators.
U.S. course owners hope Canadian frustration will ease, but Delair sees little sign of that. “It feels a lot like the early weeks of COVID,” he said. Unlike the pandemic, there is no federal relief funding for businesses this time.
The effect on winter travel remains uncertain. Reports from property management platforms suggest snowbird trips are consistent with previous years. However, Air Canada has reduced U.S. flights while boosting capacity to Mexico and the Caribbean, complicating predictions for the upcoming winter season. Currency changes, including a weaker Canadian dollar compared to last year, have not offset the decline.
NGCOA CEO Jay Karen said many course owners are already noticing fewer Canadian bookings. A recent survey found 18% of members reported declines, and another 12% expect lower bookings.
Calderwood warns that recovery could be slow. “It’s easier for Canadians not to plan trips at all than to cancel them,” he said. If the trade dispute continues, next year may see even greater reductions, with some losses potentially permanent.
U.S. golf courses that rely on Canadian visitors now face a critical season. How course owners adapt and whether Canadian golfers return will shape the industry’s near-term future.
