DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Golfing is a favorite pastime in Northeast Wisconsin.
Experts say it’s growing in popularity.
According to the National Golf Federation, In 2021, a record 3.2 million Americans played golf on a course for the first time.
Local courses are expecting that to continue going into summer.
“Enthusiasm is through the roof. We’ve had quite a few days where you hate to turn away golfers but every tee time is taken. Which is exactly how you want to run a golf course or what you hope to see as far as enthusiasm,” Hilly Haven Golf Course golf professional Andrew Welnetz said.
Welnetz says the number of lessons he’s taught has doubled each year for the last three years.
Over at Mid Vallee Golf Course, they saw a record number of rounds for 2020.
“We eclipsed that again in 2021. I think just with the pandemic, golf is an escape for people, a way to get outside, be away from people, and I think there’s been a huge uptick in people wanting to improve their health,” Mid Vallee Golf Course Manager Andy Larsen said.
Larsen says more young golfers are taking up the game.
“We’re still seeing a lot of 20 to I’d say 25 year olds, college-age kids coming in, we’re not seeing them so much in spring yet, but we’ll start seeing them again in June,” Larsen said.
Welnetz hopes the clubhouse, pro shop, and tee sheet continue to be full.
“Because over the last few years a little bit prior to COVID, the start of COVID, what we saw was golf courses closing down. And you hate to see that. So I’m hoping that this uptick feeds enough golf courses to keep them viable,” Welnetz said.
Local courses say when Wisconsin hosts golf events like the Ryder Cup, there’s a boost in their business.
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