The good news keeps coming for the golf industry.
At about the same time that it was announced that the opening date for the Stillwater Golf Club in northern St. Johns County would be sometime in May — it’s first new course built on the First Coast since 2002 — came news from the National Golf Foundation that golf-course closings nationwide are down 53 percent from its peak two years ago, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Only 130 courses closed in 2021, less than a one percent decline in the overall U.S. supply of 16,035 courses on 14,033 facilities.
The National Golf Foundation compiles annual statistics on golf course openings, closings and renovations, as well as demographic statistics for players and rounds.
Rounds of golf have gone up across all demographics since the pandemic began in March of 2020, mainly because it was one of the few activities that remained open, even in areas that had the most severe shutdowns, because it could be played outdoors under social distancing conditions.
The NGF reported that December rounds nationwide increased two percent over December of 2020, for a net increase of 5.5 percent for the year. Golfers played 25 million more rounds in 2021 than 2020.
Rounds in Florida went up 8.2 percent in December of 2021.
The NGF also reported that the number of municipal courses increased four percent over 2020. That was a combination of new courses but also of cities and counties purchasing daily-fee clubs and re-opening them.
The number of U.S, courses (as measured by 18 holes), has dropped 11 percent since the peak in golf-course construction prior to the recession that began in 2007. Since 2006 more courses have closed than have opened every year, most the victim of overbuilding which preceded the burst of the housing bubble.
The NGF also reported that the private course inventory increased in 2021 for the first time since 2007. It was a net increase of 12 facilities, but as the report noted, it wasn’t a loss.
Area to host “One-Days”
The First Coast will host four Florida State Golf Association “One-Day” tournaments this year.
The 18-hole events will have men’s and women’s divisions in all age groups, with net and gross flights.
The first area One-Day will be April 21 at Jacksonville Beach. Queen’s Harbour will be the site for a One-Day Fourball tournament on May 23, and Marsh Creek does the honors on June 27.
It closes on Aug. 29-30 with a 36-hole event at the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course and Dye’s Valley.
Information can be found at fsga.org under the tournaments section.
Spring Four-ball at Palatka
The deadline is approaching to enter the Jacksonville Area Golf Association Spring Fourball on March 14 at the Palatka Golf Club.
Players have until March 10 to register at jaxareagolf.org. The tournament is open to amateurs and professionals.
There will be a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m., with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. Practice rounds on March 13 are available for $25, including carts.
State golf dates set
The dates have been set for the Florida High School Activities Association state golf championships, which will return to the Mission Inn Resort El Campeon and Las Colinas courses in Howey-in-the-Hills.
The Class 2A state boys and girls tournaments will be Nov. 8-9, Class 3A are Nov. 11-12 and Class 1A are Nov. 15-16.
District and regional sites will be determined this summer. The Ponte Vedra High boys team will be seeking its sixth state title in a row and its eighth overall, which would add to the state records the program already holds.
Golf and first responders
The renovation of the St. Johns Golf Club, which began last month, will also include a bit of security: the county is also building a new fire station and sheriff’s substation near the property.
The golf project will cost around $8 million and includes new greens, tees, irrigation, bunkers, paths and drainage. Erik Larsen, who oversaw the renovation of the Selva Marina Country Club to the Atlantic Beach Country Club, is the architect.
Also getting a sprucing-up will be the clubhouse and cart barn. Work is expected to be completed in October.
Record for students
The Jacksonville Area Golf Association Scholarship Trust received a record $43,000 last year and has already picked up donations from clubs such as Eagle Harbor and Marsh Creek for next year.
Applications for the next scholarship class are due by March 31 and must go through a JAGA club director. Information and applications forms can be found at jaxareagolf.org by clicking on the “scholarship” tab.
Horner finishes second
Steve Horner of Ponte Vedra Beach racked up 76 Stableford points in two rounds and tied for second in the senior division of an FSGA Winter Series event last week at The Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland. Horner finished seven points behind Jerry Rose of Sarasota.