More Course Closings - NGF Report

[Bruce Katona]

NGF does post pretty solid data.

[Ryan Farrow]

Here's the National Golf Foundation's latest Report:

The total U.S. golf course supply declined by 1.2%, with the opening of 12.5 new 18-hole equivalent golf courses and 198.5 course closures. Closures have outweighed new openings nationwide since 2006, an ongoing correction of supply and demand within the market that followed an unsustainable 20-year building boom during which more than 4,000 courses opened, boosting the U.S. supply by 44%. The U.S. remains the best-supplied golf market in the world with 14,613 facilities and 16,693 courses – more than 75% of which are open to all players, the highest public-to-private ratio in history.

http://wearegolf.org/industry-news/national-golf-foundation-releases-2019-golf-industry-report/

Steve,

I think that 75% number is a bit misleading.  Aren't 99% of courses in the UK "open" to all players with a quick phone call or look at the website?

Its one thing to be privately owned and operated, its another thing to be truly private where the public has no chance to play without an invite or a Willy Wonka Style Golden Rater Pass...

I read that as the highest Public to Private ratio in US history (not a world-wide leader) maybe you did as well. 75% public sounds about right although 90% or more of the best courses are private, as we are all well aware.

[Sean_A]

Seeing the percentage of public courses in the US is a reminder that although most of the famous US courses are private, if there is a US model it is public golf. I would go a step further and say it is affordable public golf. So much of social media focuses on the skinny end of golf that it is very easy for non Americans to get the completely wrong idea about golf in the US. In my experience nobody in the world touches the US in terms of affordable, accessible golf in such large numbers. GB&I is a distant 2nd. The issue for most is wanting access to the best courses, which is an understandable desire.

Happy Hockey

[John Emerson]

Seeing the percentage of public courses in the US is a reminder that although most of the famous US courses are private, if there is a US model it is public golf. I would go a step further and say it is affordable public golf. So much of social media focuses on the skinny end of golf that it is very easy for non Americans to get the completely wrong idea about golf in the US. In my experience nobody in the world touches the US in terms of affordable, accessible golf in such large numbers. GB&I is a distant 2nd. The issue for most is wanting access to the best courses, which is an understandable desire.

Happy Hockey

As far accessibility you may be correct, but the quality is mediocre at best

[Pete_Pittock]

Seeing the percentage of public courses in the US is a reminder that although most of the famous US courses are private, if there is a US model it is public golf. I would go a step further and say it is affordable public golf. So much of social media focuses on the skinny end of golf that it is very easy for non Americans to get the completely wrong idea about golf in the US. In my experience nobody in the world touches the US in terms of affordable, accessible golf in such large numbers. GB&I is a distant 2nd. The issue for most is wanting access to the best courses, which is an understandable desire.

Happy Hockey

That is why (at age 30 in 1975) I joined a private club and got an air mileage credit card.

[Kalen Braley]

Seeing the percentage of public courses in the US is a reminder that although most of the famous US courses are private, if there is a US model it is public golf. I would go a step further and say it is affordable public golf. So much of social media focuses on the skinny end of golf that it is very easy for non Americans to get the completely wrong idea about golf in the US. In my experience nobody in the world touches the US in terms of affordable, accessible golf in such large numbers. GB&I is a distant 2nd. The issue for most is wanting access to the best courses, which is an understandable desire.

Happy Hockey

As far accessibility you may be correct, but the quality is mediocre at best

You're both correct here.  Lots of availability at good prices, but mediocre quality.  But its really just a reflection of basically everything else in America,

[Paul Rudovsky]

I have not yet figured out whether Black Forest in Michigan is closed for good or not.  It was bought at auction last year for back taxes, but I've not heard anything from the buyer, so I assume they are not looking to fix it up.

Played it in June 2018.  Still had great bones but not much else I am afraid.  Looked felt and played terminally ill

[Joel_Stewart]

California still has a number of courses struggling. I heard that the golf course at Wente Vinyards is considering closing. The country club for a day model doesn't work anymore. I believe this was Greg Norman's first course in the US.

[Pete_Pittock]

Previously mentioned on this thread Broadmoor GC in Portland, OR closed this week.  In operation for nearly 90 years the course was started late in the depression (1929) by six sisters converting their parent's dairy farm. Designed by George Junor, who's family was credited for most of the early works in Oregon.

[Dan_Callahan]

The International in Bolton Mass, once famous for being the longest course in the country (The Pines Course), closed this year. It's a shame because their Fazio course was actually really enjoyable.

[Brad Tufts]

A couple of my family members are going to Hawaii in a couple weeks and were researching options in pandemic times...one I noticed was Koolau apparently has "closed for good," with the church that owns the property looking to do something with the land that "better fits their mission."


I have not played it, but pics and videos seem to show that hiking or zip line tours might be the only other activity possible...

[Jeff Schley]

A couple of my family members are going to Hawaii in a couple weeks and were researching options in pandemic times...one I noticed was Koolau apparently has "closed for good," with the church that owns the property looking to do something with the land that "better fits their mission."


I have not played it, but pics and videos seem to show that hiking or zip line tours might be the only other activity possible...

Oh no!  Supposedly the most difficult course in the US with an obscene amount of balls needed for a round by us mortals.

[Mike Bodo]

A couple of my family members are going to Hawaii in a couple weeks and were researching options in pandemic times...one I noticed was Koolau apparently has "closed for good," with the church that owns the property looking to do something with the land that "better fits their mission."


I have not played it, but pics and videos seem to show that hiking or zip line tours might be the only other activity possible...

Oh no!  Supposedly the most difficult course in the US with an obscene amount of balls needed for a round by us mortals.

I played the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club not far from Koolau a couple of years ago before the Greg Norman re-do, which is virtually a carbon copy of that course. I lost 10 balls that round and while the course was visually stunning, hardly anyone was on it. It had recently changed hands when I played it, but I cannot imagine that place surviving given what few tourists are traveling to Hawaii currently. I'm sure the majority of courses on the islands are struggling to make ends meet, unlike those in the continental U.S. which are having banner years. If you were having a difficult time turning a profit on golf in Hawaii pre-pandemic, you certainly aren't making money now.

[astavrides]

I think there was a different thread that listed California course closings, but I couldn't find it with a quick search.


fwiw, looks like Mile Square - Players Course- in Orange Co. closed last month. The Classic course at that facility is still open.


I'd be interested if anyone can give me an idea of current course conditions in CA re/ the drought. I know it probably varies from location to location and course to course and will probably get worse until rains start coming (hopefully) towards the end of the year.

[Anthony Gholz]

Art MaCaferty's The Michigan Golfer maintains such a list for Michigan.