Golf Course Business Is Increasing...But Prices May Rise

2010, at the height of the Great Recession, golf course business -- measured by the number of rounds played -- was down in a big way as many people struggled to make ends meet and pay for the basics. Golf, of course, being a leisure activity, suffered along with many similar businesses.

Things seem to be changing for the better, however:

“We already noticed numbers getting stronger during the second half of 2011,” [PGA of America Senior Director of Marketing and Relations Paul] Metzler said. Much of that had to do with pockets of encouraging news on the economy, and also mild weather across the nation, he adds.

The downside? Higher fees.

A stronger economy would also offer some opportunities for golf course owners in setting their prices higher for the year. “We estimate the average price per round will continue to go up this year,” Metzler estimates. Initially, private golf courses are expected to see the biggest increase in the price levels, Metzler adds.