Golf courses welcome players back for 2023 season

FARMINGTON HILLS — April has arrived, and golf courses around metro Detroit are welcoming golfers back to the links.

The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission opened its five courses April 1 and 2, reporting relatively slow business due to weather conditions on April 1. Despite this, they are anticipating a busy season.

“Golf is coming back at the Oakland County parks. All five opened (that) weekend,” said Matt Pardy, the supervisor of Red Oaks Golf Course in Madison Heights. “We’re excited to get people out here to enjoy golf.”

He said that courses around the area have experienced a lot of business in the last few years since COVID-19.

“We definitely have been seeing a jump since COVID,” said Pardy. “Once people were able to get outside, golf has been very popular. We’ve seen that stick the last couple of years since then. It’s a good outdoor sport that keeps you away from people. We’re hoping that continues.”

Derick Marcum, the general manager of the Sanctuary Lake Golf Course in Troy, confirmed that they have been having above average business the last few years as well.

“We’ve been seeing an increase since COVID. It got a lot of new people involved in it. We’ve definitely seen it,” he remarked. “We are very busy, even this early in the year. We think it will continue this year. The biggest issue we could run into is Mother Nature.”

Jamie Cole is the Farmington Hills Golf Club PGA professional and pro shop manager.

He has also noticed an increase in the popularity of the sport.

“Since COVID, golf across the nation has gone up 20%, 30%, and by all means we have seen that here as well,” Cole said. “People, they couldn’t do anything during COVID, so people are taking up the game of golf. They could be outdoors — one of the few things that were not restricted. … It’s popular enough where we take reservations a week in advance, and we’re filling our daily tee sheets.”

Prior to COVID, Cole said, the number of people playing golf was dropping off quite a bit.

“Numbers started going back down to pre-Tiger, they call it. COVID hit, and it’s the biggest boom that has ever happened — bigger boom than you had with Tiger Woods,” Cole said.

From Cole’s perspective, a large part of the surge of popularity is due to adults from 20 to 30 years old taking up the sport.

“A large part of them were the younger people,” he said. “People that weren’t interested — they took it up and they’ve stuck with it.”

Cole said that from May through September, the Farmington Hills Golf Club, which features an 18-hole course and a driving range, has been averaging over 300 people a day.

“After the first of the year quite a few phone calls start coming in, people just wondering if they can join a league or bring a league out here,” he said. “Start getting into February, it’s, ‘Do you have an opening date?’ People wanna get on the golf course and try out their Christmas presents. … And then once March hits, I’ll walk in two or three mornings a week to look at the phone messages, (and) I’ll have 50 or 60 phone calls.”

Cole considers golf the greatest sport in the world, and he shared his rationale for what attracts people to it.

“They’re outdoors, so they’re enjoying the nice weather,” he said. “You’re outdoors exercising, as opposed to being in a gym, so that’s the No. 1 benefit. You’re having a good time, and you’re getting more exercise than you think you are.”

The Sanctuary Lake course is in a rare position to judge attendance, since it is open year round and thus can track the sport’s popularity even in the off season.

“In terms of a start date, we are a unique course, since we stay open all year round,” said Marcum. “We’ve had games in January and February. Everyone seems really excited for the season and the warm weather. We’re seeing increased rounds.”

Business has been so good that Marcum suggested golfers check with whatever course they want to play at to see if they need to reserve a tee time.

“Booking a tee time is a must at most courses now,” he said. “You can’t usually just walk on, since tee times go so fast, so I would recommend it. There’s not usually trouble getting a time, but you’ll want to call ahead or go online before playing.”

Pardy said that golf has proven more and more popular since COVID due to its naturally socially distanced nature while allowing people to be active outdoors.

“We’re seeing a lot of newer golfers,” he said. “They are looking for something outside that they can do away from people. They are picking up the sport, and I think it’s catching on stronger than it has in a long time.”

“Golf is a fun, enjoyable experience,” Marcum added. “You’re outside. It can be competitive or non-competitive. It’s just a great game.”

Pardy encourages those who may have always wanted to try the game but never gotten around to it to consider playing a game or two this season or taking a lesson, adding that many courses — like those run by Oakland County — have differing options depending on who someone wants to play.

“There (were) no events on April 1. We (were) just welcoming people back. Our season lasts until about early November. It depends on the weather, though,” he said. “We have an array of golf options for beginners who want to try it out, all the way up to options for avid golfers. We have a premier course, Lyon Oaks, over in Wixom. Springfield Oaks in Springfield Township has a course Up North feel. Red Oaks is a nine-hole course in the middle of an urbanized area. It’s perfectly located for golfers to sneak out and play a quick nine.”