GOLF GUIDE DAILY JOURNAL | 2021 CHANGING THE GAME More millennials and women hitting the greens ALSO INSIDE: Map of local courses Column: Reflecting on 2020 9-hole rounds becoming more popular Nothing« NORMAL ABOUT 2020 BY MIKE DAVID When 2020 began I thought the big- accounts for over $530 million annually and seeing record numbers. The interest gest issue we would face would be the in total wage income. In addition, golf in their junior golf program meant they rollout of the World Handicapping provides over $900 million annually in were adding events to meet the demand. System (WHS). Over five years in direct revenue to the Indiana economy. On May 28, 2020, we re-started our the making, the WHS was now being We had the Indiana golf course tournament programs with the Spring implemented and would allow golfers owners on our side, along with Sen. Pro Am at Rock Hollow. To our from all over the world to have one Linda Rogers, who is a golf course pleasant surprise, our entry numbers centralized handicapping and course owner herself. We developed a 5 Stage were up from 2019. People very much rating system. Converting millions MIKE DAVID Plan for golf that matched the Gov- wanted and needed golf! of golfers to this new system was a Mike David is the executive director ernor’s 5 Stage Plan for reopening the That trend has continued of the Indiana Golf Association. daunting task and there were serious state. Fortunately, the governor’s office throughout the year. For Indiana Golf, concerns about how smoothly this responded by telling us that our 5 our membership and entry numbers rollout would go for our 30,000+ Stage Plan “was in line with the State’s are up from prior years. Overall, Indiana Golf members. extended the deadline for dues for the 5 Stage Plan.” The combined effort Indiana golf courses are seeing an Little did I know that just a few over 18,000 PGA members nationwide. from Indiana Golf and the Indiana increase in play from last year that hit months into the 2020 season, handicap- They implemented weekly calls with Golf Course Owners Association gave almost 20% in both June and July. For ping would be the least of our worries. executive directors in an effort to make us a very clear road map to follow for the year, play is up 13% in Indiana and As late February and early March sure communication lines were open golf in Indiana. It also helped answer some courses are substantially higher rolled around, the COVID-19 virus and best practices could be shared. No a number of questions that we were than that. Keep in mind, that includes began to take a more prominent part one had all the answers, but the open fielding from our PGA members and Marion County courses being closed in conversations. At our March Indiana lines of communications were enough golf course owners and operators. during the month of April. Golf Foundation Board meeting, I to know that we were not alone. Communication became our top One additional thing needs to be started to hear of the impact it was The USGA followed closely behind priority during the quarantine and, pointed out. The PGA members and as- already having on the businesses of my and provided a grant program for whether or not Indiana Golf had all sociates and Indiana golf course owners board members and very soon after Allied Golf Associations who needed the answers, we were being asked all and operators are to be commended that the shutdowns began. financial support. the questions. We did our best to pro- for their efforts to provide a safe outlet Shortly after that, things began to While various businesses and vide answers when we could and seek for Hoosiers during these crazy times. get real for the Indiana Golf Office. industries were being tossed around out answers when we couldn’t. Clearly, There were significant added protocols It became evident that the state was as either essential or non-essential, there was no playbook to follow. that had a major impact on their opera- going to shut down in the near future. we got some very good news early on. One thing was clear, however, tions that they all had to undertake. Indiana Golf staff began working re- Governor Holcomb put a high level throughout the ordeal — golf has pro- They shared best practices and worked motely in mid-March and the scramble of importance on Hoosiers needing vided thousands of people a relatively together to provide Indiana golfers a was on to communicate with donors, to get outdoors for recreation even safe haven during these very uncertain quality experience while many other vendors, delivery drivers, tournament during the height of the pandemic. times. I would include myself in that things were shut down. players and everyone in between. Golf, for mental and physical health statement. It was hard to find a place While it remains to be seen if the With a very uncertain future the reasons, was essential. during the height of the quarantine resurgence the game experienced in first concern was from a budget stand- We walked a very fine line when that I felt safer than on the golf course. 2020 will carry into 2021, the op- point: how long can we go without communicating with the governor’s So, while golf courses seemed to be portunity is there. One private club golf? Fortunately, the leaders of office. On one hand, we needed to very busy this spring, Indiana Golf was in Indiana had done 19,000 rounds Indiana Golf over the years had put a do some positive politicking on the pretty much shut down during that in July, compared to just 11,000 at the high priority over fiscal responsibility relative safety of the game and the period of time. We anxiously waited for same time the previous year. Hope- and making sure there was a “rainy important economic impact the game the OK to begin to run events again. fully those new to the game or those day fund.” Our short-term financial has on the state. On the other hand, And we wondered what participation who came back to the game will see needs were of no real concern and all hundreds, and sometimes thousands in events, membership numbers, and the positive impact golf can have on staff could be retained. of people, were dying on a daily basis First Tee sign ups would look like. their lives and their families lives and The PGA of America acted quickly and golf seemed pretty insignificant. Prior to Indiana getting the approval we will see all of them again in 2021. and provided each of the 41 PGA In a letter to the governor’s office, we to begin operations again, we did get a Oh, and by the way, the rollout of Sections with an “advance” on the an- outlined the fact that the golf industry glimmer of hope from the South Texas the World Handicap System seems to nual funding they provide. They also provides 21,000 Hoosier jobs and PGA. They were running events again be going well. 2 SOUTHSIDE GOLF GUIDE 2021 12 8 9 37 GREENWOOD INTERSTATE 1 4 65 JOHNSON COUNTY GOLF COURSES 31 1. Bluff Creek Golf Course 5. Hickory Stick Golf Course 9. Otte Golf & Family Fun Center 5 135 2710 S. Old State Road 37 4422 Hickory Stick Blvd. 681 Sheek Road Greenwood, IN 46134 Greenwood, IN 46143 Greenwood, IN 46143 317-422-4736 317-422-8300 317-881-4620 www.bluffcreekgolf.com/ www.hickorystickgolf.com/ www.ottegolfandfamilyfuncenter.com/ 7 2. Cypress Run Golf Course 6. Hillview Country Club 10. Tameka Woods Golf Course 7265 State Rd 44 E (private) 4849 S. 450 West 6 2 Franklin, IN 46131 1800 E. King St Trafalgar, IN 46181 FRANKLIN «317-738-2555 Franklin, IN 46131 317-878-4331 317-736-5555 tamekawoodsgolf.com/ 3. Deer Valley Golf Course hillviewtime.com/ (9-hole course) 11. Timbergate Golf Course 44 5357 E. 300 S 7. Legends of Indiana 151 St. Andrews Avenue 3 Franklin, IN 46131 2555 N. Hurricane Road Edinburgh, Indiana 46124 317-738-4441 Franklin, IN 46131 812-526-3523 317-736-8186 www.timbergate.com/ 4. Dye’s Walk Country Club www.thelegendsgolfclub.com/ 10 252 (private) 12. Valle Vista Golf Course 2080 S. State Road 135 8. Orchard Golf (par 3) 755 E. Main St Greenwood, IN 46143 251 N. State Road 135 Greenwood, IN 46143 11 317-535-9666 Greenwood, IN 46142 317-888-5313 www.dyeswalkcc.com/ 317-883-3840 www.vallevista.com/ EDINGBURGH www.orchardgolfcenter.com/ ORCHARD GOLF CENTER 251 N. State Rd. 135 • Greenwood, IN • 317-881-5067 www.orchardgolfcenter.com - 18 Hole Par 3 Golf Course - Open Year Round - 18 Hole Miniature Golf - Golf Lessons Available - Driving Range Golf for the Home of BUNKER RUN GOLF SHOP 317-883-3840 ole Family! “Ping Top 100 Fitter” IN-35071694 SOUTHSIDE GOLF GUIDE 2021 3 Golfers are« changing, and it’s not so “With a lot of other activities such much so about how they dress, the as travel baseball and travel soccer types of clubs they use or how they being canceled last year, parents had approach the game. There’s actu- more free time and it seems that ally a notable shift in the physical many of them got back into the game CHANGING make-up of players on both public of golf,” Essig said. “With people and private golf courses in the working at home, some were even THE United States.