Category: News

Golf Booms in 2020

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Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic Holding Many Industries Back, 2020 has Provided a Boom for Golf 

Throughout March and April of this year, many golf clubs, facilities, and organizations were forced to shut down as the COVID-19 pandemic began. However, despite many lengthy shutdowns, we are seeing that only a few months later, that golf has been as busy as it has ever been.

Central Links Golf has seen great participation in 2020 events and has aimed to make sure golfers can be healthy and safe while continuing to provide quality events for players, staff, volunteers, and member clubs. 

Executive Director of Central Links Golf, Doug Habel, says “Golf has been one of the few outlets for people in 2020. We have seen an increase in participation across the board in our tournaments, and tee times have been extremely difficult to come by. The COVID-19 protocols we put in place, as well as those put in place at facilities, have seemed to be effective in limiting the spread of COVID-19 through golf” when commenting on the successes seen in 2020.

As for the data, the numbers speak for themselves.

Across all Central Links Golf Member Clubs, there has been a 41.45% increase in rounds posted to GHIN handicaps in 2020, resulting in 880,697 total rounds posted in GHIN this year (as of October 27th). A few significant club increases include Lake Quivira Country Club in Lake Quivira, KS and The Deuce at The National in Parkville, MO, both seeing 72% and 69% increases in rounds posted this year, respectively (both increasing from about 9,000 rounds in 2019 to over 16,000-17,000 rounds in 2020 so far). 

As far as the national ranks go, according to the National Golf Foundation’s “The Q”, there was a 19-25% increase in rounds played during July, August, and September. The summer months provided an increase in rounds by nearly 27 million… now that is a lot of golf!

While there has been this golfing boom this year, clubs, facilities, and organizations have still been able to maintain consistent protocols to keep golfers safe when attending. The PGA website provides some operational examples during COVID-19 to get “Back2Golf”, and some of these examples are listed below.

  • Clubhouses enforce mandated mask policies
  • Single-rider carts, which are always sanitized, are encouraged when riding
  • Pin modifications, plus removal of rakes, trash cans, and ball washers have helped reduce the mass touching of shared surfaces

When speaking to member clubs, Central Links Golf hears the impact of the golf rush that 2020 has brought. Baile Stephenson, Club Services and Marketing Manager at Central Links Golf says “Our area clubs continue to report record numbers of rounds. Ultimately, we are happy to be here providing opportunities to link communities and generations together through the game of golf.” 

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but also any time that the golfing industry is facing a challenge, the community wants to do all that it can to provide people the opportunity to play this wonderful game we call golf. 

18 Eagles | on 18 Holes

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Ron Brewer, a member at Wolf Creek Golf Links in Olathe, has accomplished some cool feats over his time playing golf. Ron is 74 years old and has been playing golf for 55 years – some career highlights of his golfing journey are playing in the 1997 US Senior Open as an amateur (and he made the cut!), being a two-time Heart of America Four-Ball Champion, and a one-time Kansas City Amateur Champion.  

However, Ron’s most recent accomplishment is arguably the most impressive: With Ron’s recent ace on the 2nd hole at Wolf Creek Golf Links, he has now eagled all 18 holes at Wolf Creek in his lifetime. You read that right – every single hole. That means 4 different aces, 4 eagled par 5’s, and many amazing hole outs for 2 on par 4’s. 

Ron’s journey at Wolf Creek Golf Links began in 1982, with his first eagle coming at the 7th hole (a par 5). His first hole in one at Wolf Creek was at the 5th hole in 1985 – “The 5th hole has been very good to me over the years. I’ve made 4 (aces) on that hole”, Ron said.

His most memorable “eagle” was when he made back to back eagles on holes 6 & 7 (where he made a 2 followed by a 3 – a nice scorecard view!).

Throughout Ron’s lifetime, he has made 10 hole-in-ones. Many of us search for just one ace in our lifetime, but Ron puts that he has been “very lucky and blessed” to not only make aces and eagles but to just enjoy the experiences that golf has given him over the years.

When asked if he has any specific new goals for himself now that he has completed his “18 Eagle” goal, Ron replied, “At 74 years old, I’m just trying to not get worse.”  

Seeing as Ron keeps making eagles, it sounds like he is only getting better. 

 
Story written by Nelson Searcy