The evidence continues to mount that Waukegan Park District commissioners may be right when they voted to demolish Orchard Hills Golf Course and turn it into sports fields mainly to play soccer. The latest comes from Golf Business magazine which in a recent article quotes a developer of golf courses: "There’s just more than enough golf to go around right now in the U.S.”
There's so much golf here that developers are eyeing Eastern Europe as an underserved market. More on that later.
According to the magazine, the National Golf Foundation reports there were 15,990 facilities nationwide at the end of 2006 and "... there’s no denying that golf’s decision-makers are slowing the glut of courses by continuing to open fewer 18-hole facilities this decade compared with the booming 1990s (210 new courses annually opened from 2000 to 2006 versus an annual average of 295 in the 1990s).
"In fact, the 119.5 new facilities that opened in 2006 represented the fewest number of 18-hole course equivalents added to the market in 20 years (102.5 debuted in 1987). What’s more, 2006 was the sixth-consecutive year that fewer courses opened compared to the previous year, dating to golf’s all-time high of 398.5 courses that opened in 2000."
In 2005, the nation posted an all-time high of 93.5 closings and the NGF reported the industry set another record in 2006 with 146 courses closing or being redeveloped in 39 states, according to the magazine. It was the first time in six decades that golf had negative net growth. The NGF isn’t scheduled to release 2007 data until May 2008, but most observers expect the number of course closings in 2007 will be on par with previous years, the magazine said.
Meanwhile, in Europe, developers are looking toward Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic to export the sport. A recent report by financial consultants KPMG noted the potential for some 3,000 new golf courses to be built over the next decade in eastern Europe. According to one developer, the growth of golf in eastern Europe is closely tied to an expanding middle class.
While a growing number of companies are looking abroad for growth opportunities, the magazine points out many course operators and developers still see a strong future for golf in the United States, hanging their hats on the nation's highly attractive demographic of 70 million baby boomers moving into retirement and hopefully flooding the U.S. economy with record levels of wealth for years to come.
That view, though, runs counter to what has happened so far to baby boomers as they've moved through the chain of life. Many have eschewed golf as too time consuming, too expensive and too boring. But then, soccer, to the uninitiated, is pretty boring, too.
I don't see the relevance of citing broad statistics to try to prove a case here in Lake County, Illinois. Golf nationwide may be at a plateau of slightly declining, but here in Lake County it's tough to get a tee time. That's a fact. I would also hazard a guess that many, many more adults play golf than soccer. Instead of looking for excuses to destroy this golf course, why don't you ask a few tough questions: e.g., why does Roger Fajardo hold so much sway over the park district board? What are his pecuniary interests in creating these soccer fields? The park district website explains that soccer in Waukegan is not controlled by the park district. That being the case, why are they so determined to create additional soccer opportunities? By the park board's own statistics, the golf course is being destroyed to accommodate 2,200 adult soccer players, most of whom undoubtedly do not live in Waukegan, and many of whom may not even be U. S. citizens. You don't seem to find any of this disturbing or unusual, but it's clear much of the News-Sun readership does. By the way, I notice that there are "0" comments on most all of the blogs. What does that tell you about your readership?
THE HOUND SEZ: You're also probably one of those people who reject global warming, the effects of second-hand smoke and the power of the Trilateral Commission. Your assertion that it's tough to get a tee time in Lake County is absurd. There's plenty of golf courses that are going begging. They just don't charge $20 a round like Orchard Hills did. That's what's got everybody's plus fours in bundle. It was a cheap and easy course. If it wasn't for governmental bodies, several county golf courses would have been turned into housing developments, including Orchard Hills when it was first purchased. And don't hazard guesses. The Hound digs for facts. You can ignore the facts, as you obviously have. You don't know if soccer players are citizens or not. Most of The News-Sun readership could care two birdies over what happens at Orchard Hills. It's just old foggies who want cheap golf and cheap fish fries. I'll bet, pawpawman, you're an old foggie.
Figures Lie & Liars Figure...
I would be willing to bet the rate of Golf Courses opening in 2008 is still higher than the rate of Soccer Complexes opening.
Would also love to see the average property value near a Golf Course vs. near a Soccer Complex.
This is old data , but probably still accurate:
Age span for Soccer players is 5 years to 30 years (median age 13)
Age span for Golfers is 8 years to 90 years (median age 40)
What park district activities serve residents over the age of 35? (not soccer)
What park district activities can your entire family across generations play together? (not soccer)
THE HOUND SAYS: How old is "old data"? A year, five, 10? You were saying about figures? Park districts have all sorts of activities for those over the age of 35 and families. Check out the district Web site for all sorts of programming. Waukegan also has two golf courses left. There's also the senior citizens programs. Take your pick, unless you're a non-resident.
Sorry, but it's hard to trust a journalist who doesn't even know how to spell "fogey." It's also hard to trust a journalist who makes assumptions (e.g., that I'm an old fogey) and who refuses to ask tough questions of the park board. Your anti-golf bias is showing, and your objectivity is lacking. Also, the daily fee at Orchard Hills was $25, not $20, and this same fee can be found at a couple of other courses around the county, so it's not all that cheap. I've played municipal courses around Illinois that are less expensive than Orchard Hills and doing quite nicely. Since it's so "easy," I assume you regularly break par there. In fact, My scores at Orchard Hills are essentially the same as my scores at Willow Glen, which is considered a hard course. Blogging is nice, but knowing what the hell you're talking about is even better.
THE HOUND SEZ: Well, you passed the spelling part of this exam. Of course The Hound knows what he's talking about. Even $25 a round is cheap these days of rising gasoline prices, food costs and college educations. Who cares what your golf scores are. Obviously, you've found other courses to play. You won't be playing at Orchard Hills this year.