Course closures continue nationally

No golf courses on the Grand Strand have closed in 2008 after a total of 22 closed between 2005 and 2007 _ mostly in favor of planned redevelopment that in many cases hasn't materialized _ but the trend of course closures continued nationally.
The National Golf Foundation has verified 74 course closures thus far this year and expects total closures to approach 100 for 2008. There were 146 closures in 2006 and 122 in 2007. The NGF says most closures are public, stand-alone nine-hole facilities, executive courses or par-3s with a value pricing.
According to the NGF, the number of U.S. courses is expected to decline, with course closures expected to outpace openings for the third consecutive year. A new NGF report says U.S. course developers are on track to post the lowest number of openings in two decades. Measured in 18-hole equivalents, 65 courses have opened this year and the NGF estimates, based on the number of courses under construction, that another 10 to 20 will open by the end of the year.
NGF officials attributes delays in openings or projects being placed on hold indefinitely to a variety of factors including a decline in the housing market that spurs golf course development, financing issues and delays in permitting.