40 Projects in Michigan, really?

[Chip Gaskins]

Somehow in the past I signed myself up for a newsletter from GolfConstructionsNews.com.  About once a week I get an email telling me all (or at least some) of the new course developments in the country. 

Today I got and email saying:

"Dear chip,

golfconstructionnews.com is tracking over 40 new or proposed projects in the state of Michigan. etc..."

Can that really be true....40! 

Doesn't sound like an economy in a recession or that golf course development is hurting to me...

[Phil_the_Author]

Chip, could the answer lie in the words "or proposed?"

[Brad Klein]

They also might have a very low threshold for what counts as a project -- like  a bunker renovation plan.

[Chip Gaskins]

Philip-  You are probably correct, the "proposed" part is probably the bloated aspect...

Brad- The website list "remodels" as separate projects...

Even with 40 proposed, that seems to be a lot of projects in a state that doesn't have a year long playing season and is supposedly losing jobs...I am not trying to make any political statements...just wondering about all the new courses for MI

[Brad Klein]

You sure it wasn't labelled "40 course closings?" That would be more likely for Michigan.

[Chip Gaskins]

Brad- My point exactly

[Bill_McBride]

You sure it wasn't labeled "40 course closings?" That would be more likely for Michigan.

Ouch.   

Played Crystal Downs, Kingsley Club, Arcadian Bluffs, and Forest Dunes last July.  AB was #4.  There is a ton of really good golf in that area.  I am a big fan of Michigan golf, it would be tough to see a lot of closings.

[Brad Klein]

Bill,

there are three tons of great courses up there, including excellent public ones. The problem is that there's also 50 tons of surplus manure and cow feed as well.

[Bill_McBride]

Bill,

there are three tons of great courses up there, including excellent public ones. The problem is that there's also 50 tons of surplus manure and cow feed as well.

Hopefully it will be the architecturally deficient, boring ones that will close.

[JC Jones]

You sure it wasn't labeled "40 course closings?" That would be more likely for Michigan.

Ouch.   

Played Crystal Downs, Kingsley Club, Arcadian Bluffs, and Forest Dunes last July.  AB was #4.  There is a ton of really good golf in that area.  I am a big fan of Michigan golf, it would be tough to see a lot of closings.

I wouldnt worry much about any of those 4 closing (maybe FD).


I am SHOCKED  there are 40 projects, even if they are proposed, in michigan.

[Bill_McBride]

Loved Forest Dunes but understand there are financial problems including union affiliation / ownership.  Terrific golf course.

[Tom_Doak]

The problem with those publications is that once somebody mentions in public that they are thinking about building a course, it gets listed, and nothing EVER gets taken off the list.

I actually went and looked at a potential new project in Michigan yesterday.  It is the ONLY one I know of north of Detroit and Grand Rapids that might actually get built in the next three years, and the money is not in place for it yet.

[Chip Gaskins]

Tom-

That assessment sounds more like what I was thinking.  I had assumed the publication/email was a bit misleading with its overly aggressive numbers.

[JC Jones]

The problem with those publications is that once somebody mentions in public that they are thinking about building a course, it gets listed, and nothing EVER gets taken off the list.

I actually went and looked at a potential new project in Michigan yesterday.  It is the ONLY one I know of north of Detroit and Grand Rapids that might actually get built in the next three years, and the money is not in place for it yet.

I didnt think that you built courses in NoMI