Luis Alonzo, 28, used to play an average of three rounds of golf per week. That was 10 years ago.
Now, he’s only playing once or twice a month — not because he has lost interest in the game, but because he now has a full-time job, less money and less leisure time.
Like Alonzo, many across the nation are cutting back on golf for various reasons, and it’s hurting the industry, according to an in-depth study by the National Golf Foundation.
Established in 1936 and composed of more than 4,000 members, the foundation is a nonprofit trade association that provides business research, information and consulting services to the golf industry.
The study found there has been a steady decline in golf over the past 10 years, which has translated into financial troubles for public golf courses across the nation.
Nearly 1,500 public courses nationwide are financially "at risk," according to the report. That’s about 15 percent of all public golf courses in the U.S. The foundation predicts anywhere from 100 to 200 courses a will close each year until the economy stabilizes.
"These are without doubt challenging times," said Carlos Espinoza, golf director at Palm View Golf Course in McAllen.