Staples Golf Design has announced the release of the Community Links white paper dedicated to help struggling municipal golf facilities find ways to increase use and become financially viable. The paper sets the tone for municipal golf’s comeback story, and lays the foundation for a solution that keeps their doors open, promoting innovation in an industry segment stuck in an outdated business model.
“Municipal golf in America has traditionally played a very important role in growing the game, and creating access for those looking to learn to golf,” said Andy Staples, a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and the architect behind the Community Links philosophy. “The intention of this white paper is to present a real alternative for municipalities to consider when approaching their course’s future; the current model for many of these facilities just isn’t working, and closure, unfortunately, may make the most sense.”
Staples’ team recently opened their first Community Links project in Hobbs, N.M., which has received rave reviews from the national golf media, as well as from Hobbs residents. Rockwind Community Links, as it is now known, focuses on expanding the offerings that attract non-golfers, as well as beginner and family golfers.
“This paper is really well done” said Dr. Bradley S. Klein, author and golf architecture editor at Golfweek. “Not only is it interesting, it’s timely.”
The paper relies on data provided by the latest NGF reports, and on information recently gathered in Hobbs during an extensive two-day survey at the facility, which included non-golfers. The paper covers the history of municipal golf in America, why its current business model is failing, pivotal trends occurring in the U.S. and the successes at Rockwind.
“I thought it was important to document why certain municipal golf courses are failing, and put into context where this segment of the industry started to go off track,” Staples said. “I think it’s very important we continue to market the values of the game of golf and sing the praises of why golf courses in our communities are a good thing. The bottom line is, golf should be celebrated for the value it provides our society.”