Golf boom in state has continued in 2021
The global pandemic affected sports, of all levels, in so many ways over the past year and a half, but one recreational sport in particular was able to find growth. And not only did golf see a boom, but courses have seen that sustain through the first half of 2021 as well.
This is especially true in Wisconsin. According to the latest National Golf Foundation report on rounds played, the state is up 30.4% in rounds played through June — exceeding the national average of a 22.8% increase.
Wisconsin has seen a 6.9% increase in rounds played in June 2021 over June of last year.
The increase in total rounds played over 2020 was predictable in that courses did close at the outset of the pandemic last spring, but the sheer number of rounds played has shown that those who either picked up the sport for the first time in 2020 or were already recreational players have not abandoned it as other recreational activities have reopened.
“Just with how golf seemed to be so popular, there was very little reason to think we weren’t going to start off right where we left off,” Milwaukee County Parks golf services manager and PGA professional Chet Hendrickson said.
“In 2020 we just roared back, shattering our revenue target by almost $2 million just for golf. We were up almost 32% versus our targets over the course of the year. We were budgeted to make $6.25 (million), we made $8.22 (million).”
And despite the fact that none of the course restaurants opened in 2020 and only beverage carts and snacks were available, the concessions department nearly hit their target (down 2.7%) “with never turning a grill on,” Hendrickson said.
Even the “destination” golf facilities in the state, which didn’t have their usual travelers to come for stay-andplay packages due to COVID-19 restrictions, say they still saw an increase in play over the past two summers, though they are privately owned and do not disclose specific numbers.
Whistling Straits, host of the Ryder Cup in September, and the other Kohler Co. courses have rebounded also.
“Golf across the country has performed well, and we have very limited tee times or packages available for the remainder of 2021,” said Dirk Willis, vice president, Global Golf, Retail and Landscape, Kohler Co.
“Guests are also booking at a strong pace for 2022 and we are still currently taking reservations for all of our golf packages and courses next year. Hosting the Ryder Cup is a special opportunity for us and it further showcases to the world that Kohler is a spectacular destination for golf, and that Wisconsin is a wonderful place to visit and explore.”
John Morrissett, the director of competition at Erin Hills, which hosted the 2017 U.S. Open, said they had a “jump” in demand to the point that 2022 bookings are off to a strong start.
The Sand Valley Golf Resort in Nekoosa was entering just its third season when the pandemic hit, but PGA professional and communications manager Brandon Carter said the resort had enough play not just in 2020 but into 2021 that it opened up more lodging, created a larger outdoor dining area and brought in a food truck. The resort is also continuing with its plans to open the Lido course in 2023.
Hendrickson said the increase in play through the pandemic of 2020 and into 2021 is similar to what the game experienced in the early part of the century when Tiger Woods made the game more popular among a wider group of people — and through their round tracking of the county’s “beginner” courses the boom has continued.
“Except we were going to have six weeks (more),” Hendrickson said. “We’re in exceptionally good position. We’re up 70% versus where we were last year.”