Ohio Golf Journal May 2020

to occupy their time? A reasonable guess is up to 10%. Rounds Played Everything in the game from tee times to sales of replacement cleats is tied to how many players and how many rounds. For the first two months of 2020 NGF says rounds played data showed a 15.2% increase over 2019, citing better weather as the reason. Assuming most of the missing 10% could be described as the least avid players, rounds played will possibly contract by 5%. Course Closings? It’s no secret many golf facilities had financial problems before COVID-19 and logic says the three- or four-month period of lower or no revenue brings the day closer when a significant number will be put to an alternate use. Fewer players mean fewer courses, plus increased downward price pressure on greens fees for the those remaining. Usingour 5%decrease in rounds played would mean about 800 more courses will convert to housing developments. Golf OEM’s? If golfers aren’t playing, they aren’t buying clubs, balls, rain suits, or any other golf equipment. Though it may take until sometime next year the big five Original Equipment Manufacturers— Callaway, Titleist, TaylorMade, Cobra and Ping—will come out of this virus-induced sales depression just fine. Smaller equipment manufacturers, however, may not have the capital, or ability to survive. One thing is certain right now golfers aren’t