Is the Golf Boom Over?

[MrParr1Noid]

3 hours ago, aenemated said:

 

You're both a couple of kids. 

 

Stick to Dave and Buster's or whatever yall young'uns do these days. 

 

/me shakes fist

 

Get off my lawn.  🙂

[tatertot]

I hope so. 

[airjammer]

I’m seeing a bit here in middle Tennessee. Crazy amount of people have moved into the area since Covid but off peak tee times seem to be easier to come by. The course by my work was booked solid and parking lot completed full any decent day above 55 degrees before gas prices went crazy and it got relatively hot. Now, parking lot is half full. 

[Roejye]

It's hard to tell for me as my home course does leagues most weeknights and I usually play at off peak times when I have a day off. Combine that with probably 90% of my rounds being there, it's hard to tell. Thinking about it, it does seem slightly slower, but nothing terrible. I also live in an area with a lot of golf courses, and most are fairly affordable, so that may help spread it out.

[Phreddy]

Heard on Katrek & Maginnes (SXM Radio):

 

For the last decade the mantra has been Grow The Game.  Now you can pat yourself on the back.  Job well done and STOP!

 

The weekday tee sheet at our course still has all of the normal retirees, but fewer of the "I'm working from home" COVID golfers as they are increasingly going in to the office, calling on clients in person and attending meetings in person.  Weekends remain robust.

 

Given the investment required to participate in the game, clubs, bags, shoes yada yada yada the marginal new player may stick around a little around a little longer than in other hobbies.  A good old fashioned recession however, will hasten the demise in discretionary spending as has been noted above.

 

At the risk of demonstrating an incredible grasp of the obvious....Golf is hard.  Even in the best of times I would bet that out of 10 new players I would guess 3 get bitten.  Love it.  Lessons.  Magazines, books and maybe a WRX member.  3 more become casual twice a month players and 4 put the clubs in the basement to gather dust.

 

Phred

 

[Moonlightgrm]

Our club has shown a drop off from last year. Although, weekends are still packed, the course is readily available Monday through Friday. Tee times aren’t necessary, simply walk up and play. 

[mantan]

I saw a tweet that went viral from a stripper saying 'the strip club is a sadly a leading economic indicator and the economy is definitely slowing down.'

 

I think the combination of inflation squeezing disposal income, heading into the summer when there are a lot of things competing that disposable income and long summer days creating more tee time inventory it'll be easier to get tee times. Hopefully the softening demand will ease prices as well.  

 

 

[Soloman1]

I would say the pandemic boom will be short lived.

 

One million people quit golf every year for a decade or more for the reasons we all know. 100-200 courses closed every year for a decade. Supply is about demand, if you back out the temporary bump.

 

The number of golfers today is about the same it was 40 years ago, so golfers per capita continues to decline.

 

Plus, all golf participation is local and the popularity of golf is as varied as crime statistics - it all depends on where you live.

[ChristopherMcDonald]

Can only speak for us California folk but my god is it booming down here. Booking a tee time is absolute hell right now. Has me thinking of joining a private club just to have a chance at a tee time on the weekend 

[SurfDuffer]

On 5/22/2022 at 9:32 AM, Soloman1 said:

I would say the pandemic boom will be short lived.

 

I hope so......selfishly.

[miamistomp]

 Course was empty today

  The hotter it gets - the emptier the course and bye to the sno birdz !

[betarhoalphadelta]

On 5/19/2022 at 8:32 AM, makana said:

Its slowing down for sure here in Orange County CA. I am now able to book tee times day of and there are plenty of weekend times at courses where I couldn't get any times. Summer is coming and I can pick up a tee time at a great twilight hour when last  year this was not possible at all. 

 

Where do you play? I played Rancho San Joaquin in Irvine last Friday, and for a "spur of the moment" round booked on ~Tuesday the latest spot I could book--as a single--was 7:30 AM unless I wanted to be playing twilight golf. I can't get a Sunday morning foursome on that course as all as the tee times open up early for "Player's Club" members. 

 

I can get times pretty easily at Oso Creek here in Mission Viejo, but that's because they have a MV resident program that gets me early access to tee times, and it starts at 5:00 AM rather than midnight... Dog's getting me up about 5:20 this time of year so I get on them quick.

 

The only course I have found nearby with easy tee times and <$100 weekend greens fees is River View in Santa Ana. And you have to deal with the vagrant pee smell going under the 22 freeway between holes 12/13 and coming back after hole 15.

 

I don't play the more expensive courses around here (Tijeras Creek, Arroyo Trabuco) much due to cost, but it's not exactly easy to get tee times there either, and those are going to be >$150 for weekend morning times. 

 

On 5/23/2022 at 12:23 PM, ChristopherMcDonald said:

Can only speak for us California folk but my god is it booming down here. Booking a tee time is absolute hell right now. Has me thinking of joining a private club just to have a chance at a tee time on the weekend 

 

Me too... It's brutal. 

 

On 5/19/2022 at 2:45 PM, Motoboss said:

WOW!! Where do you live, Monterey?

 

Just played a State owned course yesterday which by comparison equals most private in the area for $25.00, upped from $20.00 last fall. 

An "expensive " course around here is $100. Every public course is under $50.00 during the week and $58 on weekends. Throw in senior rates and we’re talking $35-$45 anywhere you go. 
Now private/public courses can be around $100 and up to $200 for non- members to play but a "decent course" at $110 to $300!!
 

Afraid I couldn’t pack my crap and move fast enough from that mess.
Feel sorry for you, unless you do live in Monterey then mehhhh.

 

WOW!! Where do you live, Topeka? 😂

 

Don't have to live in Monterey to have crazy expensive golf--in fact I think it's probably cheaper than it is here unless you're playing the famous courses lol. 

 

Just using home prices as a proxy for golf prices, it looks like home prices once you're outside Monterey proper are lower than they are where I live... So I assume some golf course greens fees are lower too. 

 

 

[prorobo]

Spots I played in Orlando over the past few weeks were full on the weekends and comparatively barren during the week. Also, the nicer courses were far cheaper than the dog tracks.

[makana]

19 hours ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

 

Where do you play? I played Rancho San Joaquin in Irvine last Friday, and for a "spur of the moment" round booked on ~Tuesday the latest spot I could book--as a single--was 7:30 AM unless I wanted to be playing twilight golf. I can't get a Sunday morning foursome on that course as all as the tee times open up early for "Player's Club" members. 

 

I can get times pretty easily at Oso Creek here in Mission Viejo, but that's because they have a MV resident program that gets me early access to tee times, and it starts at 5:00 AM rather than midnight... Dog's getting me up about 5:20 this time of year so I get on them quick.

 

The only course I have found nearby with easy tee times and <$100 weekend greens fees is River View in Santa Ana. And you have to deal with the vagrant pee smell going under the 22 freeway between holes 12/13 and coming back after hole 15.

 

I don't play the more expensive courses around here (Tijeras Creek, Arroyo Trabuco) much due to cost, but it's not exactly easy to get tee times there either, and those are going to be >$150 for weekend morning times. 

 

 

 

 

For twilight hours I play Rancho San Joaquin at times because I live around there or I play Costa Mesa CC (totally not a CC) or Navy Destroyer. Weekends, courses like Strawberry Farms, Hidden Valley etc etc. for under $60 on weekends you could go to el prado in chino area. again not a lot of options. Diamond Bar was a great course but it is currently closed for renovations (2.5yrs already). 

[Stinger83]

Just looking at tee times for the holiday weekend. Tons of tee times left at some of the most popular courses in my area. You can tell demand is down when the first Twilight tee time is available at multiple places. Thats usually the first to go. 

 

On this forum it's a concentration of die hard life long golfers. But half the golf industry are fair weather, "only when the wife's in a good mood" players. And I think the price of gas and inflation are making some people choose between $100 for a Sunday round and $100 for gas right now. 

[jvernon]

I’m torn. Golf where I live is ridiculously busy. I hate it. When I live within 30 minutes of 10 courses and on weekends it’s not uncommon for all 10 to be booked solid. Even to just play as a single. 
 

but the other side is I have friends that have picked it up and I enjoy playing with them. My guess is once people start to realize just how difficult it is to get good, a fair number will stop playing. 

[Shilgy]

On 5/25/2022 at 11:15 AM, betarhoalphadelta said:

 

Where do you play? I played Rancho San Joaquin in Irvine last Friday, and for a "spur of the moment" round booked on ~Tuesday the latest spot I could book--as a single--was 7:30 AM unless I wanted to be playing twilight golf. I can't get a Sunday morning foursome on that course as all as the tee times open up early for "Player's Club" members. 

 

I can get times pretty easily at Oso Creek here in Mission Viejo, but that's because they have a MV resident program that gets me early access to tee times, and it starts at 5:00 AM rather than midnight... Dog's getting me up about 5:20 this time of year so I get on them quick.

 

The only course I have found nearby with easy tee times and <$100 weekend greens fees is River View in Santa Ana. And you have to deal with the vagrant pee smell going under the 22 freeway between holes 12/13 and coming back after hole 15.

 

I don't play the more expensive courses around here (Tijeras Creek, Arroyo Trabuco) much due to cost, but it's not exactly easy to get tee times there either, and those are going to be >$150 for weekend morning times. 

 

 

Me too... It's brutal. 

 

 

WOW!! Where do you live, Topeka? 😂

 

Don't have to live in Monterey to have crazy expensive golf--in fact I think it's probably cheaper than it is here unless you're playing the famous courses lol. 

 

Just using home prices as a proxy for golf prices, it looks like home prices once you're outside Monterey proper are lower than they are where I live... So I assume some golf course greens fees are lower too. 

 

 

Yeah, here in the Phoenix area it’s impossible to begin to imagine a “equal to private for $25”  scenario.

[loneacer]

These was a boom?  Guess I missed it.  My course closed 4 years ago.  I went from playing 3-5 times a week to less than once a year.  I just played a couple rounds for the first time since pre-pandemic and it didn't seem any different.  So if there was a boom around here, it has already faded.

 

I've played for 30 years and have only played maybe 15-20 different courses (and half of those I've only played once).  5 of the courses I played regularly have since gone out of business.  Every place I've ever played that had more than 18 holes has closed down at least 9 of the excess holes.

Edited May 31, 2022 by loneacer

[mursie]

can you still flip equipment on ebay?  one of the big reasons I came to this forum was to find a "safer" place to buy/sell golf equipment and that was 10 years ago.  I tried to sell a cell phone on ebay 3 years ago... wound up with the item back on my doorstep, missing 1/2 the accessories I shipped, and a forced ebay refund to seller.  there is zero protection over there.

[betarhoalphadelta]

9 hours ago, loneacer said:

These was a boom?  Guess I missed it.  My course closed 4 years ago.  I went from playing 3-5 times a week to less than once a year.  I just played a couple rounds for the first time since pre-pandemic and it didn't seem any different.  So if there was a boom around here, it has already faded.

 

I've played for 30 years and have only played maybe 15-20 different courses (and half of those I've only played once).  5 of the courses I played regularly have since gone out of business.  Every place I've ever played that had more than 18 holes has closed down at least 9 of the excess holes.

 

Jeez. Please stay away from any courses I play. You're the harbinger. 

[Hoselknocker]

I hope so. Every “pandemic player” I’ve come across had absolutely no golf etiquette.  Monday I was in a twosome following 2 guys and their wives or girlfriends.  We waited on every shot while they hit multiple shots.  One lady hit 3 balls off the tee twice. They never even thought of

letting us play through.  I’m tired of it.

[OnTheBag]

On 5/19/2022 at 8:43 AM, MtlJeff said:

There's no way new golfers are added this year

This is my opinion as well.  I've noticed over the last year and a half, that the RTJ tourist crowd has aged slightly.  in 2020 and early 21, they all seemed to be in their late 20's to mid 30's.  This Spring's crowd have been families with college aged kids and empty nesters.

 

My guess is that we have seen the peak of the boom, but are likely to have added a few thousand addicts to the weekly meeting.  

[msugolf]

I think you have to look past the tee sheets and course busyness to see what's really happening with consumers and spending. People are still spending money like crazy, while prices have increased exponentially. Sure you'll see people complain about rising prices but they'll still just pay for it ... just begrudgingly. Habits are hard to break and we've had a generation of folks who aren't used to cutting back or eliminating things - private schools, memberships, vacations, youth travel baseball/soccer/jr golf, eating out/etc. Bank accounts are getting lower at a faster rate and I know a lot of folks who refuse to accept it. But eventually they'll have to and I think you'll see that translate to the golf industry ...every industry once reality sets in.

 

The same thing is happening in other industries as well. Companies have raised their prices, some because they had to and some because they just adjusted along with everyone else, knowing the consumer will pay. They have no intention of coming back down to previous rates. Why charge $100 for a product when I know they'll pay $200?

 

[JKJKJK]

I hope so....

 

Nothing is available and too expensive.

[Petethreeput]

On 5/19/2022 at 3:28 PM, MPAndreassi said:

No slow down here either. Our waiting list is up over 100 people now, and our initiation fee is up. 

I was just going to say the same.  The waitlists for the privates around here are getting longer and longer.  I think if you are in an area people are leaving then it's slowing down, if you are in an area people are moving to then it is actually increasing.

 

But I also agree golf follows disposable income, and I think it speaks to the type of folks migrating and their resilience to financial downturns.

[SNIPERBBB]

Its been over for a decade, the COVID blip notwithstanding.

[cliche]

the golf boom is far from over. just wait until the golf version of drive to survive will air on netflix. good luck getting a tee time 

[third-times-a-charm]

On 5/31/2022 at 9:23 AM, mursie said:

can you still flip equipment on ebay?  one of the big reasons I came to this forum was to find a "safer" place to buy/sell golf equipment and that was 10 years ago.  I tried to sell a cell phone on ebay 3 years ago... wound up with the item back on my doorstep, missing 1/2 the accessories I shipped, and a forced ebay refund to seller.  there is zero protection over there.

Sure you can.

 

And generally golf equip buyers are better than electronics. YMMV though as people like to use the internet as a 'try it and return it' store. I've had people get mad at me on ebay because i denied their returns. It is what it is.

[SlothofDespond]

Anecdotal only: I belong to a private club in New England and the course certainly feels less played this year. We still have a waiting list and actually had the fewest number of membership losses over the winter in many years.

 

I don't have actual numbers for this year but we saw a huge spike in play in 2020, which declined somewhat in 2021 but not back to pre-pandemic numbers. I'm guessing we're at least back in line with pre-pandemic numbers this year. I'm also guessing that people are now doing more non-golf stuff compared to past years (kids sports, travel, other family stuff, etc.).

 

What I am seeing that is encouraging is a more diverse player population. Younger and many more women on the course compared to even just a few years ago. I think that's a decently good sign for the future.

Edited June 3, 2022 by SlothofDespond

[Inexorable_Fate]

Great. I'm looking forward to the influx of new clubs on the used market.