There have been a number of articles in recent months about the continued decline in the number of golfers and the number of rounds played.
These articles repeat what the National Golf Foundation has been saying—and what I think our county leaders are ignoring. It simply does not make sense to continue to pour tax dollars (regardless of the source) into Superior National at Lutsen.
If its business plan made sense, there would be private investors trying to get a piece of the action!
Our commissioners need to read the February 11, 2014 Minneapolis Star Tribune article Golfers big and small rally around “The Fred,” about the city of Edina’s plan to close its golf course to save money. Read the story at: www.startribune.com/local/west/244819111.html
They should also read the January 31, 2014 TurfNet.com article Construction, play, number of golfers decline in 2013 at: www.turfnet.com/ page/news.html/_/construction-play-number-ofgolfers decline-in-2013-r249.
The story cites the National Golf Foundation, stating “Only 14 new courses (in 18-hole equivalents) were built in 2014 in the United States and another 157.5 closed their doors, for a net loss of 143.5 courses. Declining interest of the current magnitude once was nearly inconceivable in a business marked for decades of slow, steady growth. However, last year marked the eighth straight year that more courses closed than opened, a trend that has become so common it now is known around the industry as ‘market correction.’”
Bob Hahn
Lutsen
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