Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2014 - 6

(editor's letter
)
Ready for Opening Day
W
ake me up when the winter of
my discontent is over. They
say the deeper the snow, the
greener the grass-which bodes well for the
golf turf when opening day arrives (sometime
between April 15 and June, when the
ice clears Lake Superior). I once witnessed a
golfer collapse in agony after his first swing
on the first tee on opening day at Shamrock.
So, ease into that first swing of the season
and make sure you're fully stretched before
gripping and ripping it down the fairway.
This year-2014-may be known as the
Make sure
you're fully
stretched
before
gripping
and ripping
it down the
fairway.
year of the horse in the Chinese zodiac, but
in these parts it may be remembered as the
year of the consultant. At least six municipalities
(Becker, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Minneapolis,
Ramsey County and Red Wing)
officially commissioned outside studies of
their publicly owned golf facilities. Add to
this list the University of Minnesota (not a
municipality, but a public institution) and
you get seven.
In Red Wing, the city and citizens
banded together and created a five-year
plan to re-fit and reopen Mississippi National
Golf Links, a scenic 36 holes in
the lowlands and along the bluffs just
south of town (see Joe Oberle's story,
p. 16). Ramsey County is about to celebrate
the grand reopening of storied Keller Golf
Course after a $12 million renovation and
new clubhouse (again, see p. 16). A study
conducted for Minneapolis concluded that
the city should invest $34 million to restore
its venerable championship courses or risk
irretrievable decline. And the city of Edina
voted to close its popular feeder course, Fred
Richards, prior to a million-dollar renovation
of the clubhouse, practice area, championship
and executive courses located at
Braemar.
According to a recent industry newsletter
(Pellucid Perspective, March 2014), Minneapolis
(and St. Paul) is the 11th healthiest
market in the United States. Among our
advantages are a more available public golf
pool (80 percent of the holes, vs. 73 percent
nationally); a favorable balance of valueadded
to public value, and learning and
practice golf; a slight bias toward premium
vs. public value/price, although our $51 premium
compares favorably to $65 in a market
like Chicago; and a " healthy and vibrant
host " home to 409,000 golfers who create demand
for 5.9 million rounds at 182 18-hole
equivalent facilities-producing " an above
average ratio " of 2,250 golfers per 18-holes.
The authors restate what we already know
about golfers here: They love to play golf, to
enjoy the outdoors, and the social and health
benefits of spending a significant amount of
time with family, friends and like-minded
citizens whilst chasing a little ball into a very
small gopher hole.
Like this past winter, the authors acknowledge
that " the specter of oversupply continues
to be the gift that keeps on giving. " The
industry is straining against the downward
pressure of too many golf holes and not
enough golfers. From 1985-2005, the golf
supply in the United States increased by
40 percent; since 2006, it has declined by 3
percent. During the " go-go " decade of supply
development, 1990-2000, the Twin Cities
slightly outpaced national expansion.
The authors say our market generates $1
million per 18-holes, slightly above the top
25 markets' average. And, after factoring in
climate and weather, our market's green fee
revenues per available round compares quite
well to the top 25, $13 to $14. Challenged by
a sharp drop in revenues compared to 1990
levels, and a steady decline in rounds demand
since 2000, our golf courses still manage
to make hay while the sun shines.
Spring cannot get here fast enough.
See you on the tee.
W.P. Ryan, Editor-in-Chief
4
MINNESOTAGOLFER Spring 2014
www.mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2014

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