Do we really need all these new courses?

[SharkAttack]

I really wish they would stop building golf courses. There are enough great courses struggling at the moment with out more to water down the amount of members at each course. Members for new courses have to come from some where, invariably it is the surrounding courses. There are just not enough new golfers to take up the missing members places.

I would much prefer clubs had full membership and extra money to improve the condition of all the great courses we already have, instead of all being 100 members down and struggling to keep the courses in reasonable condition. What would your course be like if it had full membership and some spare cash to spend on improvements?

 

[PNWokingham]

there are hardly any new courses being built these days - probably the least in 40 years. The boom was in the 80s and first half of the 90s when hundresds of farmers fields got converted, many with little imagination!! The only new ones at present are top-end jobs like Trump Aberdeen. I can't think of any new courses opening in the South East of England for a while. There are almost certainly more courses closing than new ones opening - and this trend will continue for years. Membership is going to get dearer and there wil be more that are essentially pay and play - the middle ground is getting squeezed.

 

[Imurg]

A lot depends on where they are though.
Not much point in opening another course in the Surrey area as there are plenty of top ones already. But in parts of the Country where there are not many around then it may be worth it.
Also it depends on the type of course.
In an area where most of the courses are private members or "top" courses charging top money, a "value-for-money" pay'n'player might work....

 

[fundy]

I can think of an area that could do with a decent course or 2 Ian lol

Just looked at the singlefigurehandicap tour and the map for venues, pretty much zero from north london all the way upto nottingham despite their being 50+ events, seems so few courses or decent open comps in this area

 

[SharkAttack]

There are almost certainly more courses closing than new ones opening - and this trend will continue for years. Membership is going to get dearer and there wil be more that are essentially pay and play - the middle ground is getting squeezed.

This was my point, so many courses built over the last few decades and declining numbers of golfers.

Shark

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Many courses are already in trouble or have closed. I don't think there are too many queuing up to build a new one in the current climate. Its fine if you are Trump and have the cash and the greatest bit of land in the world to use but if your trying to convert farmland etc then I can't see it being a viable proposition at the moment without huge cash investment

 

[SyR]

We could do with a new top golf course in my area.
As the European Tour is more global now I can't see as many courses being built compared to the 80's and early 90's.