Golf courses throughout Stark County are expanding their business in 2022

Rian Johnson started playing golf less than a year ago. Already, he prefers to hit the range in his free time.

On his 19th birthday last month, his parents bought him a new golf club. And his social media feed is full of golf content.

“I realized and realized that there were more people coming to golf,” said Johnson of Jackson Township. “I know a lot of my friends have asked for golf and more more often than before.”

Johnson and his friends are among the many who have started sports in recent years. This move is evident at the golf course in Stark County, where parking lots are full, tee times are booked, and business is booming.

Carrie Raleigh, PGA Director and General Manager of the Legend of Maciron Golf Course, estimates that her business on the course has increased by 30% since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the United States in the spring of 2020. Golf is a legend and has nearly 300 golfers per day.

In 2021, 37.5 million people over the age of 6 participated in on-course and off-course golf activities nationwide, according to data from the National Golf Foundation. Last year, more than 3.2 million people played golf for the first time, surpassing the record high of 800,000 set in 2000.

According to Laurie, playing sports was a way to relieve stress and people flocked to the golf course because they were able to stay outdoors away from the health restrictions imposed on indoor areas. It ushered in a new era of sports, where traditionally non-sports people, such as teens and women, played a major role in the growth of the game.

More young people, women enjoying golf

Andy Lions, owner of the Lions Den Golf Course near Canal Fulton, said: “A few years ago it was the exact opposite. All growth was and was predicted by seniors, but now we see dramatic changes.”

According to Lions, places like Top Golf and 1899 Indoor Golf both utilize traditional golf elements in competitive-style games, motivating people to try out real golf courses. ..

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Sue Snood, business manager of the Alliance’s Tanenhauf Golf Club, said people in their 20s and 30s are coming to the golf course more than ever. Tannenhauf offers many junior programs and golf clinics for beginners, she added, with an increasing number of young players.

Women also play far more at the Savburg Creek Golf Course near Hartville, said the director of Golf Ray Headley. He thought it increased because people were allowed to work from home. This has greatly increased the time to try new things, especially during the summer.

Take bacon home

As the number of golfers increases, so does the amount of money Stark Golf Course earns this year. Diane Sims, manager of Edgewater Golf Club in Minerva, said play has increased significantly on this year’s course.

She pointed out the price of Edgewater and the stable flow of golfers on weekdays and weekends as the reason for the economic prosperity of the course. Due to the recent good weather, she said, people are just trying to find a way out.

Doug Switzer, director of the East Spata Spring Valley Golf Course, said his course increased significantly between 2019 and 2021. However, this year the course is slightly down from the 2021 trend, but he attributed it to rain and cold weather at the beginning of the year.

Sweitzer added that the closure of local golf courses such as Skyland Pines and Tam O’Shanter is also boosting business in the Spring Valley.

“Many people came and said the course they were playing before was Skyland or Tammy, and they were unaware that our course was here until the COVID hit. “He said. “At the end of these courses, they found us and have been here ever since.”

Contact Ryan by email (rmaxin@gannett.com), Twitter (@ryanmaxin), or phone (330-580-8412).