There are many indicators telling us the decade-long death spiral of golf has started to reverse itself in 2015. The spring and summer weather was sensational this year. The Minnesota golf, in particular, is having the fastest year-over-year rebound in the whole nation.
Ramsey County’s historic Keller Golf Course has gone through a serious makeover, resulting not only in an award winning renovation, but in many new golfers on the course, as well. Woodbury’s Eagle Valley also had a clubhouse makeover and they seem to be doing great this year. Edina is also being built with high hopes.
“It’s just a different world,” said Eden Prairie-based golf course architect Kevin Norby, who reports that his firm is having its best two years in a quarter-century. (via Star Tribune)
The turnaround shakeout is only a flip side of the slide, as Star Tribune says, and with more than a dozen private and public courses getting closed in less than a decade, it seems like the folks who still love golf really needed the change. The survivors are more than happy with it, and better yet, newbies are getting interested, too.
By the end of July the number of outings in Minnesota had grown by 15 percent over the same period in 2014, according to Michael Abramowitz, spokesman for the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America. Nationally, the number of golf rounds played was up by 1 percent. (via Star Tribune)
The main reason for this year’s success, when it comes to golf, is most probably the amazing weather.
“I’ve been doing this a long time and we will never have a year like this again as far as weather is concerned,” said Mark Foley, golf pro at Keller. “You couldn’t make it any better. We’ve had an incredible year. We started as early as we ever will and [a week ago] Thursday was our first rain day. It’s been crazy.” (via Star Tribune)
The next big lure lies in cheaper rounds. Reducing the fees turns out to be good for golfers and very inviting for newcomers.
