Affordable, new golf courses

How much is the average, public course golfer willing, or able to pay to play a round of golf? That is the key question that course owners and managers are asking themselves during these trying times for the golf industry. Potential new course developers are asking this question as well. Very few new courses are being built at the present. In the Tidewater region of Virginia the last new course opening was Lambert's Point, a 9 hole course built by the City of Norfolk. In Raleigh, NC there have been four new course openings in the past 3 years, two private courses, one upscale public, and one affordable public. There have also been two affordable public courses close since 2003.

Among courses built around the country in the past ten years, it would seem that very few were built to be marketed as affordable, public options. This is a problem for the golf industry. In these times when all families have less disposable income, golf will likely be the expenditure cut out if necessary. It would seem that in most regions there is a real lack of golf courses that are both affordable to play and interesting to play. While an affordable price will get golfers to come to a course once, there must be interest in the design in order to get them to return.

What can be done to make new golf courses more affordable? First, developers and potential owners can seek out those designers who work to build golf courses with minimal amounts of earth moving. Second, in conjunction with limited earth moving, they can work to limit the amount of irrigated and maintained turf on the course. This second option, of course, requires a change in perception among the golfing public about what makes a course "good" but with sound design and an affordable price, most golfers are willing to be "educated," so to speak. And third, course designers and developers must research different types of turf to find out which type will allow the best conditions for the area, but also be tolerant to either less water than other types or tolerant to the use of effluent or gray water.

If designers and developers can follow these three steps, well designed, interesting and affordable new golf courses are possible. Its just a question of whether or not either of these groups are willing to do that.