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 From the News Desk...September rounds provide short-term liftThere is some good news to report in the golf industry – for a change. It appears that there was a genuine bump in rounds played in September, compared with rounds played in the same month in 2008, according to the National Golf Rounds Played Report. However, some analysts also predict the end of the year might not harbor similar good news. Year-over-year rounds played for September were up 4 percent nationwide, but that’s not all. Total Golf Playable Hours – a measure of total number of daylight hours compared with factors such as precipitation, humidity, daylight variances and wind – were flat for the month, according to golf industry analyst. Performance was up by 4.6 percent at public-access facilities and 2.5 percent at private clubs. “I’m happy to report that the Golf Playable Hours for September at the national level were flat. So this rounds increase was true performance,” said Jim Koppenhaver, a Chicago-based golf industry analyst and consultant and principal of Pellucid Corp. “September, at least in my book and weather-factored, is a real gain.” The greatest gains were made in New England and parts of the Midwest, where play was up 13.5 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Leading the way in New England were Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where play was up 15.5 percent, and Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont (up 13 percent). Rounds played were up 21 percent in Illinois and 16 percent in Wisconsin, compared with the same period last year. Rounds played also were up in many parts of the Sun Belt, including Louisiana (up 24 percent), South Carolina (13 percent), North Carolina (11 percent), and down in others, such as Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Rounds dropped by 18 percent statewide in Georgia, which was plagued by flooding rains late in the month, 14 percent in Alabama and 11 percent in Tennessee. Year-to-date rounds played are up slightly (0.5 percent) compared with the first nine months of last year. The report, which collects data from more than 4,000 golf courses, is a collaborative effort of Golf Datatech, the National Golf Foundation, PGA of America and National Golf Course Owners Association. The good news might only be temporary, said Koppenhaver, who said an early look at October’s numbers could prove unusually bleak for golf facilities in many parts of the country. “October has been horrendous here in the Midwest,” he said. “I haven’t yet done the number for the month that just closed, but it’s going to be ugly for a number of U.S. locations, I believe.” |
 In other news... Greens of envy Olympic Club members and 2012 U.S. Open reap benefits of converting from Poa annua to bentgrass. Posted: 11/19/2009 Read more » News and people briefs Register now for New England turf show, Toro introduces walk-behind trencher, Sipcam adds to sales staff Posted: 11/19/2009 Read more » A better divot digger Motorized device developed at the University of Arkansas produces uniform damage quickly and could help advance turf recovery research. Posted: 11/19/2009 Read more » Currier moving on from Bethpage Site of this year's U.S. Open to get new superintendent and 15th green. Posted: 11/18/2009 Read more » Economic struggles mean finding more fat to trim Superintendents look for ways to cut due to shrinking budgets. Posted: 11/16/2009 Read more » Complete news index »
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