No green for the greens?
Economy affecting local golfers, coursesBy Brad Bauer, bbauer@mariettatimes.com
Article Photos
Fact Box
Budget busters:
Nitrogen and potassium are common fertilizers used by golf courses.
Urea, a commonly used nitrogen-based fertilizer, has gone from $200 a ton last year to more than $800 today.
Potassium was $280 a ton last year and is more than $750 a ton today.
Source: Times research
At least once per week during the summer, Gary Russell and his golfing buddies used to pack a car and head out of town for a round of golf.
But with the high price of gasoline, Russell, 69, of Torch, said his group has decided to keep their play a little closer to home this summer.
"We're still playing just as much as we used to. I don't think most guys are going to give up something they enjoy doing so much," Russell said. "I think a lot will cut back on how much they travel to play.... It seems like most guys are just playing the local courses more."
It's a trend that local course managers have noticed, and the one thing keeping many of them afloat as they face skyrocketing costs.
It isn't just the cost of fueling carts, mowers and other equipment that is breaking budgets.
Oxbow Golf and Country Club Manager Mark Brooks said the price of fertilizer, fungicides and pesticides has nearly quadrupled since last year. The products are needed to keep the fairways and greens healthy and playable at the Belpre-area course.
Fertilizer has gone from about $200 a ton last year to more than $800. Depending on the application schedule, courses can run through several tons a week.
"This course is our product, and we won't cut back and compromise our product," Brooks said. "Without a good product, no one will want to play us."
Labor costs have also gone up at golf courses. It is the result of changes to state and federal minimum wage rates.
To help draw more local golfers, some courses are offering deep discounts for weekday or off-peak play. Otherwise, costs for a round at most courses since last year have remained about the same. A round of 18, including cart, ranges from $22 to $35 at local public courses.
"We're used to seeing more golfers from Canton, Columbus and even Parkersburg," said Lakeside Golf Course Manager Gary Naylor. "We are seeing a lot less of those guys, but a lot more local golfers. It kind of balances us out."
Further complicating matters for golf courses, Naylor said more than two weeks of play was lost to rain so far this year at his Beverly course. The only good thing about all the rain is that most area courses are in very good shape, he said.
Naylor said he would not be surprised if some courses eventually begin to scale back on fertilizers. It would save on the cost of the product, plus it would likely mean less mowing. With fertilizers, most courses have to be cut three to four times a week.
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steelcurtain
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07-20-08 10:52 PM
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LOL! Front page news about not being able to play golf!
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Indian
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07-19-08 12:22 PM
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Fore!!!!!!!
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