For many golfers, rain, cold, even family responsibilities don’t stop them from getting in a round.
But what about during a recession Several southeastern Connecticut golf courses are not waiting to find out, as they maintain or lower their rates and take other steps to make sure golfers do not reduce the number of times they play this year. The private New London Country Club in Waterford, for instance, is waiving its $4,995 initiation fee for returning former members and offering a one-year trial membership without the initiation fee for new members. Members pay an annual fee of $3,600, but the course is lowering that for spouses and children of members. The city-owned Norwich Golf Course has not increased the $1,550 price of a season membership for residents and lowered the price for non-residents to $1,785. It has also added features for season-ticket holders such as allowing them to bring a guest to play once a month for free and will be offering other promotions during the season. Most courses, including layouts such as River Ridge Golf Course in Griswold and Cedar Ridge in East Lyme, have kept their fees the same. River Ridge is considering running some specials while Cedar Ridge, which has not raised its rates in nearly three years, offers a free round to anyone who plays 10. The head pro at River Ridge, Brian Morrow, said he can’t say yet if the depressed economy is hurting the course. “So far what’s hurt us the most has been the weather,” he said. “When we’ve had warm days we’ve been packed.”
Tom Jones, the pro at Elmridge, agreed the weather has been a big factor. “People ask me every day if the economy is causing a downturn in the number of rounds,” he said. “My answer is the weather has been so bad we just don’t know.”