When Tiger Woods was at his peak, interest in golf exploded. Real estate developers were successful in convincing non-golfers that owning a home next to a golf course increased its value.
There was a bright side to this disaster. Golf community HOAs, tiring of the high cost of maintaining a golf course, would allow play by non-club members during the week to pick up a little extra revenue. This was a particularly competitive market in Houston in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. It was often possible to play 18 holes, with a golf cart and lunch included, for $20.
I think some of the golf courses in arid area use over 300,000 gallons of water a day. And many are still irrigating lawns and filling backyard pools and turning the air conditioning up while heat waves and droughts worsen. I just don’t think we will get serious about climate change until after the suffering forces us to act.
“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all other possibilities.” Winston Churchill
Not only golf courses but driving ranges took a hit as well. They were plentiful at one time but now you typically have to use the range at the golf course.
Some of the courses I played no longer exist. Brock Park, Old Orchard, Houston Hills, Sugar Hills, Fish Creek, Bear Creek, Heron Lakes, Green Meadows all bit the dust. Don’t know about the expensive courses. Too costly for me. That’s why I marshal. Free golf is a good way to go.
When I retired I put my name on a list to become a marshal. Took a year to finally get the gig but I’ve been marshaling for 22 years now. That’s a lot of free golf.
You are a bit late on that score. And unfortunately, even if the population suddenly grasps the concept and embraces radical change, warming will go on for a very long time. Our best hope to slow it over the short-term is to minimize human-caused methane release; methane is responsible for about a quarter or so of radiative forcing. But carbon dioxide lingers for hundreds of years.
According to NGA - there are 48 million golfers of some sore n the US
This record-setting total includes 29.1 million people who played on a golf course and another 19 million who participated exclusively in off-course golf activities at places like traditional and tech-enabled driving ranges, indoor golf simulators, or golf entertainment venues like Topgolf.
But I guess what really matters is how many rounds of golf are sold. Supposedly the average is 60 per golfer - ~175M rounds of golf. 30,000 rounds per course = 5,800 golf courses? There’s about 16,000 golf courses in the US. 3 times more than we need?
The Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston had over 50,000 rounds per year when I lived there. But it may take 5 or 6 hours complete a round if it’s busy. Their website says they are currently looking for volunteer marshals, if [ImAGolfer] is interested.
The PGATour holds an annual event at Memorial Park,so the course is excellent, and at $30 for Houston City Residents it’s still a bargain.
I used to play a Bear Creek with a 3 PM start time in the Summer months when the heat and humidity had scared everyone off the course. I could usually play 18 holes in 2-1/2 hrs.
I used to do the same thing here in Vancouver when the temperature got above 90. The Pro Shop often questioned the wisdom of that since I carried my bag. I’d explain that I lived in Houston for 20+ years and 90 degrees is Springtime weather.
I already have a marshals position locked up at Sharpstown and really glad I have it. For info Memorial Park is one of two surviving city courses. Since they began hosting the Texas Children’s Hospital tournament Memorial is ALWAYS closed. I mean ALWAYS.
When I retired a work college (sp) gave me two passes to Memorial. This was before they had a professional tournament. I kept putting playing there but the passes were only good for 1 year so I decided I better go. I made a T-time and figured this wasn’t bad. 7:00 in the morning. The second time I tried it I got a Noon T-time. No way Jose. I’ll stick with my course. Besides their Marshals are not the friendliest folks in town. I did take lessons at Memorial man moons ago.
Like you I try to avoid the heat so we always played at 6:00 am before the course even opened. We would be finished by 9:00. One of our partners was VERY slow. We used to play for $3. Over the years that $3 went back and forth so many times it got wore out. Yea, every once in a while I lucked out (or they had a bad round) and won $3.
Now with health issues I haven’t played since January but I’m still marshaling hoping that when it cools off in December I’ll start playing again.
