Daly closed his golf course?

[Gohogs600]

Saw this posted to his twitter account today... Anyone have any info?



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[sowmonella]

He took a nice little club and ran it into the ground.

[HognitiveDissonance]

He took a nice little club and ran it into the ground.

Lions Den was actually a fun little course. A couple of holes had incredible views of Mt Nebo...scenic course.

This was also where Daly hit a tee shot off a tee in David Feherty's mouth.

[userpick]

I hate this. I was fortunate enough to get to play several times there with JD while he was suspended from the tour in 2009. He's a good guy who wanted that course to make it, but for some reason it never panned out.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

I hate this. I was fortunate enough to get to play several times there with JD while he was suspended from the tour in 2009. He's a good guy who wanted that course to make it, but for some reason it never panned out.

John seems like a guy whose heart is in the right place and who has the best of intentions, but I don't know that I'd want him running a business.

[mhuff]

In all fairness, there are courses closing their doors all across the country. Golf is on the decline. The course I belonged to last year closed. Since then the greens have been bulldozed and a horse arena and possibly a water park is going to be built.

[hawgon]

Seventy five dollars and six hour rounds are a tough sell these days.

[clutch]

In all fairness, there are courses closing their doors all across the country. Golf is on the decline. The course I belonged to last year closed. Since then the greens have been bulldozed and a horse arena and possibly a water park is going to be built.

I think it's starting to make a comeback. The bad economy hit golf really hard. People just simply couldn't afford it anymore. It seems to be coming back a little though.

[EastexHawg]

In all fairness, there are courses closing their doors all across the country. Golf is on the decline.

Yea.  Fewer people playing golf would be great for me, but unfortunately half of them have now decided that they are tournament fishermen.  After all, all it takes is daddy buying you a $70,000 Ranger and some expensive tournament clothing and you're almost a pro...

[mhuff]

I think it's starting to make a comeback. The bad economy hit golf really hard. People just simply couldn't afford it anymore. It seems to be coming back a little though.

It's the age group 20-30 that are abandoning the courses. Too few golfers chasing too many courses.

[mhuff]

Seventy five dollars and six hour rounds are a tough sell these days.

Hawgon, I believe it has actually benefitted those who are still playing. I have seen some nice courses for about $35 or less.... especially this time of year.

[RazorPiggie]

Whats the stat?

Something like 400 courses closing each year and only about 35 starting?

or was it 200 closing?

I don't remember but regardless its not a good ratio.

[clutch]

It's the age group 20-30 that are abandoning the courses. Too few golfers chasing too many courses.

Probably because that was the age hit the hardest by the down economy. Most people older were already financially established and could handle a small blow. The younger crowd, still full of debt, couldn't spare much.

[Martygit]

There's a certain fixed expense in keeping up a golf course to the point that people will come play on it.  And, it takes a certain number of rounds every year to cover that expense much less make a small profit.  The fact that the course is in Dardanelle, AR probably contributed to its inability to generate enough rounds to cover the expense.

After all, Jack Fleck, the 1955 US Open Champion, tried to run one just down the road from Dardanelle and had to close it many years ago.  I'm surprised JD was able to keep it open as long as he did.  It probably took a big chunk out of his pocketbook to keep it going.

[HognitiveDissonance]

There's a certain fixed expense in keeping up a golf course to the point that people will come play on it.  And, it takes a certain number of rounds every year to cover that expense much less make a small profit.  The fact that the course is in Dardanelle, AR probably contributed to its inability to generate enough rounds to cover the expense.

After all, Jack Fleck, the 1955 US Open Champion, tried to run one just down the road from Dardanelle and had to close it many years ago.  I'm surprised JD was able to keep it open as long as he did.  It probably took a big chunk out of his pocketbook to keep it going.

Lil' Bit of Heaven was the name of Fleck's course, in Magazine, AR.
How's that...a US Open champ running a golf course in Magazine, AR.

[waphill]

Probably because that was the age hit the hardest by the down economy. Most people older were already financially established and could handle a small blow. The younger crowd, still full of debt, couldn't spare much.

I think golf will continue to decline. The younger generation are used to instant gratification, and don't want to invest 4-6 hours in a round of golf.

[clutch]

I think golf will continue to decline. The younger generation are used to instant gratification, and don't want to invest 4-6 hours in a round of golf.

I hear this all the time and don't buy it unless it's the age group growing up right behind me. I'm only 26 and know tons of people my age that play golf regularly. I have to think that if I know that many then there are lots of others. Now I do think there's a lot in my age group that didn't start playing until the past few years. Mostly discovered the game on their own and that has more to do with their parents not exposing them to golf when they were kids. Spent all their time playing the Big 3 sports growing up.

[EastexHawg]

I think golf will continue to decline. The younger generation are used to instant gratification, and don't want to invest 4-6 hours in a round of golf.

Maybe so.  When I was a teenager I couldn't get enough golf, but then again I was that way about every sport.  I worked at a nine hole course and on my days off I have walked as many as 63 holes.  Every time I got a chance to play in my 20s and 30s I wanted to play 36 if I could find someone who didn't want to quit after 18.

I realize we are dealing with a different breed of teenagers and young men today.

[hawgon]

I had plenty of time to play in my twenties, and did a lot.  Now, in my 40s, I have too many responsibilities.  Cost is an issue, but not a huge one.  The main thing is time.  Pretty much can only play on the weekends and four to six hour rounds kill the whole day, leaving no time for anything else.

The thing that a man in his 20s doesn't realize yet is that for someone who actually has to work to  make a living, there isn't time to do everything you might like to do.  If you want to fish, hunt, or go to Razorback games, you can't golf every weekend.  And since you work, you can't do it during the week either.

For me, golf is strictly a April or May to August affair when the days are long and there is time to play after work and the weekends aren't taken up with hunting, football games, and kid's activities.

[The_Iceman]

I'm 25, a member at Lost Springs in Bentonville, and play 2 times a week, not counting days I just go hit a bucket of balls.

[clutch]

I play all the time whenever I'm not working, but I don't have a family to keep me busy so I can do as I please.

[waphill]

I hear this all the time and don't buy it unless it's the age group growing up right behind me. I'm only 26 and know tons of people my age that play golf regularly.

Yes, I'm sure there are "tons." However, are there enough of you to replace all of the baby boomers that play now and will be leaving the sport within the next 20 years?

I worked in the industry for 15 years, and it was pretty evident if you paid attention to the customer base. That was one of the reasons I changed careers.

Edit: Here's an interesting read: http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2014/05/23/how-a-declining-middle-class-is-killing-golf/

[hawgon]

We used to have a little goat ranch in town.  Sure, it was terrible, but you could go out there and walk it for ten dollars and ride it for twenty.  And they didn't really watch or care if you played more than you should.  In short, it was a great place for kids or anyone who just wanted to kill an afternoon hacking it around with no pretensions or illusions of grandeur.

Well, six or seven years ago some car deal from Dallas bought it and gave it to his nephew to run.  He spent millions trimming trees, planting grass, redoing greens, and building a giant new clubhouse.  Now, the conditions are great, the greens are immaculate, and...they are going broke because the green fees are $50.00.  They took a cheap crappy course with a crappy extremely old fashioned (1920s and short) layout, and turned it into a moderately expensive very well maintained course with a crappy extremely old fashioned layout.

I honestly can't figure how it will ever pay.  I'm figuring the guy needed to give a nephew a job and lose some money for tax purposes.  But anyway, they ruined the only place in town where everyone was comfortable and hack it around.  They got too big for their britches.  I actually watched them run a black guy off the driving range...THE DRIVING RANGE...for not wearing a collared shirt.

No wonder golf is dying.

[GolfNut57]

We used to have a little goat ranch in town.  Sure, it was terrible, but you could go out there and walk it for ten dollars and ride it for twenty.  And they didn't really watch or care if you played more than you should.  In short, it was a great place for kids or anyone who just wanted to kill an afternoon hacking it around with no pretensions or illusions of grandeur.

Well, six or seven years ago some car deal from Dallas bought it and gave it to his nephew to run.  He spent millions trimming trees, planting grass, redoing greens, and building a giant new clubhouse.  Now, the conditions are great, the greens are immaculate, and...they are going broke because the green fees are $50.00.  They took a cheap crappy course with a crappy extremely old fashioned (1920s and short) layout, and turned it into a moderately expensive very well maintained course with a crappy extremely old fashioned layout.

I honestly can't figure how it will ever pay.  I'm figuring the guy needed to give a nephew a job and lose some money for tax purposes.  But anyway, they ruined the only place in town where everyone was comfortable and hack it around.  They got too big for their britches.  I actually watched them run a black guy off the driving range...THE DRIVING RANGE...for not wearing a collared shirt.

No wonder golf is dying.

What was the name of this course and where is it?

[hawgon]

What was the name of this course and where is it?

It is called Newhaven.  You can figure out where it is.

[DeltaBoy]

The PGA  been pumping big bucks into inner city's and metro areas to try and rebuild their base but Golf been in decline the past 15 years at least.  Sad to see it close but I don't have money for Golf.

[who knows]

I'm 31 and just started playing golf 2 years ago...I was never introduced to it as a teenager and wasn't interested in it in my younger 20's... my buddy asked me to play a round with him a couple years ago and I've been addicted since...it's a expensive hobby... between buying new clubs to balls and tees to paying for your round of golf...then places charge $10-15 for a bucket of balls for the range...I recently stopped playing at a course because it was just steadily declining...I'm not old enough or been playing golf long enough to be able to tell if golf is declining... but I think most people just embrace that stereotype that golf is "boring"... like tennis...until they get on the course and play and realize it's pretty fun... and you can drink cold beer

[GolfNut57]

I'm 31 and just started playing golf 2 years ago...I was never introduced to it as a teenager and wasn't interested in it in my younger 20's... my buddy asked me to play a round with him a couple years ago and I've been addicted since...it's a expensive hobby... between buying new clubs to balls and tees to paying for your round of golf...then places charge $10-15 for a bucket of balls for the range...I recently stopped playing at a course because it was just steadily declining...I'm not old enough or been playing golf long enough to be able to tell if golf is declining... but I think most people just embrace that stereotype that golf is "boring"... like tennis...until they get on the course and play and realize it's pretty fun... and you can drink cold beer

Where the heck you been playing that charges that much for a bucket of balls? Highest price I have ever seen if $8 bucks for a large bucket. And it is rare to even see that. Most are around $6 for the large.

[hawgon]

Where the heck you been playing that charges that much for a bucket of balls? Highest price I have ever seen if $8 bucks for a large bucket. And it is rare to even see that. Most are around $6 for the large.

$10 for a large bucket here.

[DeltaBoy]

We have a city owned course that we spent several million on and it been losing money since it reopened.



http://www.ci.cleburne.tx.us/index.aspx?NID=106

[Hawgndaaz]

golf is more expensive than ever and my generation isn't making much money for the hours spent working.

we aren't lazy, just very busy and not getting compensated for it because the baby boomers don't give raises.

[ricepig]

golf is more expensive than ever and my generation isn't making much money for the hours spent working.

we aren't lazy, just very busy and not getting compensated for it because the baby boomers don't give raises.

Have you seen the dues increases at the club? We can't afford those and giving you raises..

[clutch]

golf is more expensive than ever and my generation isn't making much money for the hours spent working.

we aren't lazy, just very busy and not getting compensated for it because the baby boomers don't give raises.

Heard that. Either free time or money would be cool. Either one would make me happy. Somehow I end up with neither.

[DeltaBoy]

Heard that. Either free time or money would be cool. Either one would make me happy. Somehow I end up with neither.

Same here I got a ton of fishing equipment and I have not wet a hook in 15+ years. 

[Hawgndaaz]

Have you seen the dues increases at the club? We can't afford those and giving you raises..

hah yep, mine just went up too. sucks but oh well.

hey, I am not talking about me personally when it comes to my financial and golf situation. I'm a single 30 year old with little debt and no kids. that makes me the exception though, not the rule.

[GolfNut57]

We have a city owned course that we spent several million on and it been losing money since it reopened.



http://www.ci.cleburne.tx.us/index.aspx?NID=106

What part of Texas is Cleburne in?

[ricepig]

hah yep, mine just went up too. sucks but oh well.

hey, I am not talking about me personally when it comes to my financial and golf situation. I'm a single 30 year old with little debt and no kids. that makes me the exception though, not the rule.

I was always told there were two boards you didn't want to be on, the Pastor Relation's board, and the country club board, both would be divisive.

[twistitup]

Same here I got a ton of fishing equipment and I have not wet a hook in 15+ years. 

Why not?

[hogbud]

Yea.  Fewer people playing golf would be great for me, but unfortunately half of them have now decided that they are tournament fishermen.  After all, all it takes is daddy buying you a $70,000 Ranger and some expensive tournament clothing and you're almost a pro...

Agree

[Hawgndaaz]

I think Cleburne is southwest of the dfw metro area about an hour and a half.

[who knows]

Where the heck you been playing that charges that much for a bucket of balls? Highest price I have ever seen if $8 bucks for a large bucket. And it is rare to even see that. Most are around $6 for the large.

I play mostly around the Texarkana area but I'll venture up to Glenwood and Hot Springs occasionally. ..

[Hawgndaaz]

the range at my club charges about 4 bucks for 25 balls. the range across town is 10.50 for a large bucket.

[ricepig]

I pay $100 for range balls all year long, you can grab two or three bags, about 30 balls each, and go hit as many as you wish. Truthfully, there are always a couple of half bags sitting on the tee area about all the time, haha.

[DeltaBoy]

Why not?

Texas had annual license that are due Labor day weekend and I am always broke with back to school Stuff so I refuse to give them a full year fee since I could not buy one till Oct or later. 


As some one posted we are 20 minutes south of Fort Worth on the New Chisholm Trail Toll Road.

[twistitup]

Texas had annual license that are due Labor day weekend and I am always broke with back to school Stuff so I refuse to give them a full year fee since I could not buy one till Oct or later. 


As some one posted we are 20 minutes south of Fort Worth on the New Chisholm Trail Toll Road.

C'mon delta, you're a southern boy- fishing is a must....license are cheap.