Dads and grads golfing

Target may just have struck a chord with the cover of its most recent circular and the headline, “swing in to save,” as recent trends suggest an uptrend in golf activity.

The number of rounds played in April increased 1.4%, following a 3.4% increase in March and a year-to-date increase of 2%, according to the National Round Played Report from the National Golf Foundation and Golf Datatech.

Target offered a compelling value proposition, with a free $10 gift card to anyone who purchases a 12-pack of Callaway brand golf balls for $19.99 and any C9 brand apparel item. The modest upswing in golf activity follows a decline of 1.8% for all of 2008, and a decline of 0.5% in 2007. The downside of the increase is that it could simply mean that now that the national unemployment rate is approaching 10%, there are more people with time on their hands to play a round of golf.