Private golf clubs challenged by shift in attitudes

The demise of Blue Heron Hills Country Club last week was the latest signal that times have changed in the world of private clubs, a sector of the golf industry that was once considered immune to dips in the economy.

"I think everywhere you look, no matter what private club it is, with the economy so unstable in everyone's eyes, the first thing that will be pulled back is the entertainment of potential private club memberships, at least until the economy shows some signs of recovery," said Rich Marr, the general manager of Midvale Country Club.

Back in the good 'ol days, the not-so-long-ago boom period of the 1990s when Tiger Woods burst on the scene and fueled a new interest in golf, country clubs were sprouting up across the nation and it was pretty easy to recruit new members to private clubs.

Many clubs nationwide, including some in the Rochester region, had waiting lists to join, even though most charged initiation fees, not to mention monthly dues that typically didn't even include cart rentals, food or beverage.
Those days are gone, primarily due to the still sluggish economy, but also because of the changing nature of the country club demographic.

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