Recreation Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2018 07 23

Home Browse Search

Future of municipal golf in many cities uncertain I Golf Advisor Page 2 of 27 On the one hand, newspaper headlines indicate that municipal courses are closing, or on the verge of closure, around the country. But on the other hand, research by the National Golf Foundation throws a curveball at this narrative. There have never been more municipal golf courses in America, according to NGF, as some cities are buying up floundering courses, taking up a proactive stance against redevelopment. But is that a good idea? A tidal wave of troubles - the struggles of the golf industry, the insatiable need of developers looking for large swaths of land in prime locations and the constant budget crunching at the city and county level - has created an uncertain future for muni golf. In just the past six months, the cities of Houston (Glenbrook Golf Course); Aurora, Colo. (Fitzsimons Golf Course); Johnson City, Tenn. (Buffalo Valley Golf Course); West St. Paul, Minn., (Thompson Oaks Golf Course, a nine -hole executive course) and Detroit (Palmer Park Golf Course) have closed underperforming courses. Richard Singer, the director of Consulting Services for the NGF who has been studying municipal facilities for nearly three decades, said two-thirds of municipal courses lose money every year. The closing of municipal courses "is a trend. That is something we could see more of in the coming years," Singer said. What does that mean for golfs long-term health? Munis tend to be incubators of the game, catering to all ages and skill levels. Like many golfers, Singer learned to play the game on a muni, the Spook Rock Golf Course (https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/9773-spook-rock-golf-course/) in Suffern, N.Y. It's one thing for a high -end private club or expensive daily fee like Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas (https://www.golfadvisor.com/articles/wynn-las-vegas-closing-16532.htm) to close. It's another issue entirely for a community course - maybe the only truly accessible course for juniors or beginners - to disappear. Think of the implications. Many municipalities are willing to operate courses at a loss to maintain green space and provide affordable golf as a community service, but too many are stuck with aging infrastructure and staggering losses to their bottom line. The red ink becomes a bullseye for city officials and non -golfing residents. At some point, this death spiral becomes a point of no return. Muni golf is growing, but many are in trouble https://www.golfadvisor.com/articles/municipal-golf-crossroads-17751.htm 6/29/2018