Golf Association of Michigan

Official Publication of the Golf Association of Michigan

Editor’s Note: How important is golf to the economy in Michigan? Results of a recently released independent study show that it’s huge: In 2006, golf in Michigan generated more than 56,000 direct and indirect jobs, and $1.3 billion in golf-related hospitality and tourism spending. Add it all up and the industry generated $4.2 billion of direct and indirect economic impact.

But golf has suffered right along with the rest of the Michigan economy. The chronic economic downturn of the past few years, coupled with an oversupply of golf facilities, both public and private, has taken a toll. Nearly 20 courses in the state have closed over the past several years; more are expected to join the list.

Meanwhile, private clubs in Michigan — like their counterparts across the nation — are facing a changed landscape. According to Golf Digest, private clubs accounted for 45 percent of the total of U.S. golf facilities in 1970. Today, that number is 28 percent. They cite a decrease of nearly 400 private clubs in the U.S. between 1990 and 2007, while the number of daily fee and municipal courses increased by more than 3,500 in the same time period.

At the same time, rising food, labor, and fuel costs have been cutting into — or wiping out in many cases — any slim profit margin at both private and public clubs.

Harry Truman once said: “The only thing new in the world is the history you don’t know.” He wasn’t being cynical; he recognized that there are solutions to problems out there, you just have to aggressively look for them. Clearly, there are challenges ahead. But various stakeholders (including the GAM) aren’t taking the news standing still. Michigan Links provides a special report on how golf is weathering the storm — from how increased advertising by Travel Michigan is helping draw more tourists, to how golf course superintendents are dealing with increased fuel prices, to how private clubs are working to retain — and gain — new members.

For more ideas on how golf clubs can survive in this market, go to www.gam.org and click on “Strategy for Survival” under the “Membership” heading. It will be the GAM’s firm commitment to search out and investigate — or even steal — every good idea we can find that is relevant to member clubs. Also, be sure to check www.gam.org for the March date of the next “GAM Membership Interactive Forum.”