Is Muni Golf Dead?

Community Golf Fan,

It seems these days you can’t pick up a newspaper or read somewhere online, negative perceptions regarding the game of golf. To me, this narrative is becoming old.

Here's the reality: are you as a city or county ready to support the game, or aren’t you?  When times were good, just about every Municipality with a course was singing golf’s praises. But, when times got rocky, many of these same proponents were the first to jump ship.

Let’s be honest; many of these courses aren’t going anywhere, they are just in need of direction.

Case in point: I know of two Municipal golf facilities facing the exact same issues - decreasing revenue and increasing costs. And, they happen to be in the same market, but addressing their issues in two entirely different ways.

The first is an 18-hole facility, recently closed due to the “lack of support” by the local golfers. They have hopes of re-opening the course, but only after someone swoops in, and saves it.

The second is a historic 9-hole course with no driving range, and is operating at a loss. This course is still open, and engaging in a dialogue with both their golfers and their community. Their intention is to find a solution that doesn't close the course, and which becomes a golf facility their entire community can be proud of.

The key difference in their approach? It comes down to priorities, and revolves around their levels of support for the game of golf. What role is their golf course going to play in the overall quality of life for their citizens as it moves into the future?

The Municipality over the closed course is hoping someone will come and save their course by magically investing into the course, on their own dime, meanwhile, the Municipality over the open course is rolling up it’s sleeves and doing the heavy lifting themselves to ensure their course exists for the next 100 years.

We need to begin to look at the future of golf in our country and communities differently. In early 2016, Staples Golf published a well-received white paper called Municipal Golf in America; Innovate or Close, which is worth checking out if you haven’t seen it. Struggling courses really have just two long-term options; innovate, or close.

We’ll be keeping an eye on both of these facilities to see how things shake out. Our money is on the one whose Municipality is emotionally invested in both their course, and their community.

Here's what you need to know:

• Municipalities need to be sticking with the game of golf during good times, and bad!
• Examples of courses that “are doing it right” can be found almost everywhere.
• Underlining course issues will not go away by hiring a management company.
• Innovation through incorporating 100% of a community, rather than just the golfers, is a must.

Please remember, we’re around to answer any questions you might have on this topic, or anything else regarding your community golf course! You can send us an email by clicking here, or feel free to give us a ring at the number below.

Until next time,

Andy Staples, ASGCA

PS- If you haven't gotten a chance to read our Community Links White Paper on Municipal Golf in America, you can download it here!

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