Economic Impact On Golf Industry

**dosry5** · 03-11-2009, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Cydkar

I'll never have a golf membership. I like to play a variety of courses. Not to mention the money.

What do you mean, "the money"? If you get a membership and play enough, you'll eventually being the course's pocket.

But I understand wanting to play other courses. I guess it's a trade off and personal choice.

**DaddyMac** · 03-11-2009, 09:52 AM

There was an article in USAToday not too long ago about this very subject - economy and golf.

It stated that for the first time in around 15 years, there are more courses planning to close, than are going to be opened.

DM Rag had an article last fall on how a large number of Iowa courses were on the verge of closing up shop. Just not enough people playing.

Probably going to be a tradeoff of benefit. I imagine most courses will do little things to attract golfers - price wise, but with fewer courses it'll be much more crowded.

Last year, through the middle of the summer I tried to play twice a week. I don't imagine I'll get that much in this year. Hopefully....

One thing I've thought of doing is buying coupons for rounds and getting a discount. I would like to play more courses this year, and I don't play enough to warrant a membership at most places - so that's no good for me. But I generally play most of my rounds at Willow Creek in DSM. They have a deal where if you buy rounds in bulk, you get x % off, and it tiers up to something like 20% for 50 rounds. The good thing is that you can split up the rounds with other people. And the obvious math on that says you're getting every 5th round for free. And I believe you can carry over the unused rounds for the next season.

**dosry5** · 03-11-2009, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

But I generally play most of my rounds at Willow Creek in DSM. They have a deal where if you buy rounds in bulk, you get x % off, and it tiers up to something like 20% for 50 rounds. The good thing is that you can split up the rounds with other people. And the obvious math on that says you're getting every 5th round for free. And I believe you can carry over the unused rounds for the next season.

I had a membership there last year for the first time. And last. That course is just way too busy for my tastes. It's nice because you have 36 holes....but man, is it busy. And lots of people who can only hit the ball about 30 yards at a time.

**DaddyMac** · 03-11-2009, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by dosry5

I had a membership there last year for the first time. And last. That course is just way too busy for my tastes. It's nice because you have 36 holes....but man, is it busy. And lots of people who can only hit the ball about 30 yards at a time.

Uh - that would be me.

Willow is funny. It can be packed, but I've been out there when it would seem I'm the only one on the course (hint: Mon and Friday evenings for some reason)

Are you getting a membership this year? How many rounds do you have to play to break even, out of curiousity?

**dosry5** · 03-11-2009, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

Uh - that would be me.

Willow is funny. It can be packed, but I've been out there when it would seem I'm the only one on the course (hint: Mon and Friday evenings for some reason)

Are you getting a membership this year? How many rounds do you have to play to break even, out of curiousity?

I just moved to Johnston, so I'm not joining at Willow this year. With what I paid last year I had to play about 45 rounds to break even. If you average two rounds a week over the season it's usually a good deal. Any less and you may not break even at all.

**hurdleisu24** · 03-11-2009, 02:33 PM

I'll be interested to see what happens through the year as there are some courses that went under or got hit very hard last year during the flooding. With this economy you would have to think they may need to lower prices on membership's to get people out on the course.