Golf industry in trouble as economy worsens

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Behold the golf course. Graced with rolling fairways, pristine greens, ancient oaks and other natural fanfare, it presents a striking picture.

But as beautiful as a golf course may be, its looks belie the trouble besetting the industry that created it.
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According to the National Golf Foundation, the number of new courses expected to open in the United States in 2008 is the smallest in 20 years. More courses are scheduled to close this year (nearly 100) than the 80 expected to open, though the closures have fallen since almost 150 were shut down two years ago. The golf construction boom of the 1990s – when about 2,500 new courses (mostly daily fee ones) were added to the 13,000 or so already extant in the U.S. – is not only over; it’s stuck in reverse.

The problems of the broad economy are bedeviling golf course construction. The housing market’s collapse has hampered development, since a number of golf projects these days are tied into on-site housing. Getting financing to build a new course is tougher than it has been in decades. Projects that were started this year have seen the bulldozers turned off until better times appear.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28021989/

[jakem]

1. Meh.

[blondeatlast]

2. This Arizonan will raise a glass to this aspect of the crappy economy.

If it saves a few more seriously endangered saguaros, amen.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Awww.... Rich white men don't get enough playgrounds! I'm crushed!

Is this a fucking joke or something?

[nykym]

4. Mark Twain said,

"Golf is a good walk spoiled."

maybe now we can start taking some of the really good walks before the put up a big box store on the closed golf courses. But watch out for any residual lawn chemicals

[KillCapitalism]

5. There's too many as it is.

Let 'em close & turn the land back into forest, pastures, etc.

[Kalyke]

6. ...

:nopity:

[Ezlivin]

7. That's par for the course

When the economy tightens the first things to get jettisoned are the optional activities or items. We can live without golf or jewelry or interior design.

[arcadian]

8. Queenie and Mitzi will truly be upset.

They lost their virginity on the 12th hole putting green.

[navarth]

9. LOL

the outpouring of sympathy is touching

[boozepusher]

10. While I do enjoy golf

I don't really care about this. There are way too many golf courses as it is. I've always been surprised they could stay in business to begin with. And no I'm not a rich white guy, far from it. I'm one of the guys they barely let on the course.:)

[Javaman]

11. Turn them into farms and the golf clubs into hoes.

golfing is a colossal waste of resources.