Mike Sweeney,
I want things to improve just as much as anyone, and, I see signs of improvement, but, I don't see the rosey picture that David is presenting.
According to his posts, clubs should soon have waiting lists(;
Patrick,
David's not presenting a "rosy" picture.
He's just trying to present something positive that's being reported-we certainly see enough negative.
That said, even if things were truly turning rosy, I still think there are way too many golf courses out there for true golfers (not the ones who took it up for a couple years because it was cool)
Even in the heavily populated MET area, so many new courses were built with fee structures that sucked the wealthiest members out of their former clubs. Just on the East End this decade(where for years it seemed no one would build again)-Friar's Head, Sebonack, East Hampton, Laurel Links, The Bridge-
many of those members have either left their former clubs, or are spending way less time at them.
It hasn't taken a toll on the East End Clubs as most are thriving, but I'm sure there's a ripple effect on the clubs up the island that lost some of their wealthiest members as members decided to pare down.
This cycle is repeated all over the country with supply outweighing demand-Long island and the East End are doing way better than much of the country where golf has been in a recession(due to oversupply) since before there was a recession.