MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) The economic slowdown in the U.S. is hurting a certain type of golf community, but apparently that should not create much concern in the Grand Strand where golf is such an important part of the local economy.
According to the National Golf Foundation the number of golfers in the U.S. has declined 13% in the past five years. Also, the foundation says the number of rounds played nationwide last year through November dropped 3.5% from 2010.
That shows a decrease in interest in golf that has had some affect on golf communities across the country. Some real estate professionals have noticed that communities that required a golf club membership in order to live along the golf course have suffered recently.
Kathy Dobr who sales real estate with Village at the Glens in Little River said many people no longer find the golf membership important enough or affordable enough to continue. Therefore, many homeowners who were required to continue paying membership fees on top of what they were paying for their homes, decided to leave those communities.
"Joining a country club and paying expensive fees, for younger couples, is not as important as it used to be," Dobr said.
Fortunately for the Grand Strand, very few area courses require that mandated link between real estate and golf that many people no longer want.
Instead, most Grand Strand courses succeed by allowing flexibility that give golfers and homeowners what they really want.
Charles O'Brien is a good example. He lives on the 5th hole of a Myrtle Beach golf course because he enjoys the area. However, he does not play much on the course outside his back door.
He does love golf though. He plays nine holes almost every day, and he has a membership at a different club where fees are not as high.
"It's considerable more at some golf course if you're required to purchase a membership," O'Brien said.
He said he is glad he is not in a situation like his brother in Florida. That brother lives on golf course that requires membership fees to the golf club, and now he is getting too old to play regularly. So he feels his money is wasted.
Real estate researcher Tom Maeser said he believes Grand Strand golf courses and surrounding communities have figured out a model that works well. He said most courses need to be open to tourists because they make up a large customer base. Also, he said separating the real estate and the membership elements in golf communities means those communities are less likely to feel the effects of tough economic times; homeowners can stay and not pay memberships, or golfers can become members without having to buy a home.
He said because of that separation golf course communities are no worse (or better) off than the rest of the real estate market in the Grand Strand. He said foreclosures are still affecting prices in all areas.
"I think we've done the smartest thing you can do when combining living and golf courses together," Maeser said. "With these economic times they're not folding up. We're not seeing people leave in droves."
Despite the positive outlook for golf communities, times could still be better. Some courses and membership clubs have cut rates to ensure there's still interest.
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