Minnesota Golfer - Travel 2023 - 4

EDITOR'S
L E T T ER
Changes in Latitudes,
Changes in Attitudes
L
abor Day, summer's final fling before the youth
troop back to school, was one of the hottest on
record. In fact, this summer had 32 days of 90
degrees or higher, breaking the record of 31 days from
1988. A federal holiday celebrating the American worker,
Labor Day was first observed in Minnesota in 1885, just
a few years before the game of golf was introduced at the
Town & Country Club in 1893.
Americans wouldn't take up
the game in significant numbers
until after WWI, yet the first
public golf course, Glenwood
(renamed Theodore Wirth),
opened in 1916. It would take
several decades of growth but by
the mid-twentieth century public
golf would surpass its tony
country club cousin. While private
clubs represent the MGA's
oldest, and arguably staunchest,
member golf clubs-T&C, The
Minikahda Club and Rochester
G&CC were among the seven
founding clubs in 1901-it is a fact that public golf is more
widespread: Of the 400 MGA member clubs, about 89% are
open to the public.
According to the National Golf Foundation's Joe Beditz,
or less, hit an all-time high membership mark this summer
of 15,420 youth, who are expected to post 80,000 rounds
before the golf season ends, making Minnesota the second
largest YOC chapter in the country.
Participation,
like memberships, seems to be riding
" Total MGA memberships
almost hit the 95,000
mark this year, a level
not seen since the
late 1990s. "
the post-pandemic wave. Through August, rounds are
up 6.5% YOY. Except for 2022, when total rounds dipped
4.5%-and which in hindsight
appears to be a weather-related
phenomenon-rounds have
increased four of the last five
years. In 2020, rounds exploded
by nearly 30% and the industry
continues to surf a wave of
increased golfer demand.
Speaking of waves, self-styled
bum Jimmy
beach
Buffett
passed away over the Labor Day
weekend and was
suffering from Merkel cell carcinoma,
a cancer that may be
associated with long-term sun
exposure.
Buffett
developed
golf enjoys a more favorable perception from a larger percentage
of the population than it did just a decade ago.
Citing a 20% drop in negative attitudes-partly due to golf
being a safe recreational alternative during the COVID19
pandemic, and partly because of favorable perceptions
from a majority (60%) of golfers ages 18-34-Beditz says the
positivity is " especially interesting " given this demographic
group represents more golfers than their Gen X and Baby
Boomer predecessors.
There can be no doubt that the game engenders positive
vibes among MGA members. Total MGA memberships
almost hit the 95,000 mark this year, a level not seen since
the late 1990s. Youth on Course Minnesota, a highly popular
junior program where kids ages 6-18 can play golf for $5
4
MINNESOTAGOLFER Travel 2023
a unique pop music style he called " Gulf and Western, "
and performed such hits as " Margaritaville " and " Come
Monday " for legions of Boomer fans called Parrotheads.
Perhaps counter to type, he was a workaholic leading a restaurant,
resort and retail empire, and also a golf nut whose
social media content is rife with golf imagery and quotes
from the cult comedy classic, " Caddyshack. "
While we'll never know if Buffett, like crazed gopher
hunter Carl Spackler in " Caddyshack, " achieved total consciousness,
hopefully he's found his lost shaker of salt.
See you on the tee.
reportedly
W.P. Ryan, Editor-in-Chief
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Travel 2023

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