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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... Study examines spring pre-stress fertility programs Research finds no correlation between biostimulant applications before spring core cultivation and recovery. Posted: 09/02/2010 Read more » Aquatrols, TurfNet present Water Week The series of five Webinars is aimed at helping superintendents manage water and soils more efficiently. Posted: 09/01/2010 Read more » News and people briefs Registration opens soon for Irrigation Show, Briggs & Stratton elects new chairman, FMC taps new director for professional solutions division Posted: 09/01/2010 Read more » GCSAA selects firm in search for new CEO Kansas City-based company will open search process for Mark Woodward's successor in October. Posted: 08/31/2010 Read more » Water foul! Research shows that droppings from non-migratory geese on turf can result in nitrogen runoff into adjacent bodies of water. Posted: 08/26/2010 Read more » Complete news index » |
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