State's Golf Economy Back on Course

Despite its long winter season and a devastating economic collapse during the Great Recession, Michigan is a top state for golfers.

In 2000, 565 million rounds of golf were played across the nation, with Michigan accounting for a significant portion, one study found, as tourists flocked to its 951 public and private courses. The tally of the public courses alone was 799 that year.

State's Golf Economy 

But by the mid-2000s, as the auto industry slid into a steep decline, the state’s golf industry fell in tandem, said Kevin Frisch, CEO of Gaylord-based Fusion Media Strategies, a golf and travel marketing firm. By 2006, more than 110 courses shuttered, according to a separate study.

Over the past several years, however, the industry has slowly reclaimed lost ground. Frisch said that can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the rebound of the local economy. A recent change locally was the purchase last week of the Maple Lane Golf Club in Sterling Heights by Auburn Hills-based residential developer Moceri Cos.

In the graphic below, average rounds played per course is up, year-over-year, and three new courses are under construction.

While a deep-dive study on the industry’s economic impact hasn’t been conducted since 2006, industry observers say the mainstay findings hold true: Golf supports about 57,000 jobs in the state and contributes $4.2 billion to the economy. (Golf Master Tips article source and author: Ryan Felton)