Par Would be a Winning Score for Denver Golf in 2018

The economy is good, the weather is good – What does this mean for Mile High City golf?

Susan Fornoff //April 24, 2018//

Par Would be a Winning Score for Denver Golf in 2018

The economy is good, the weather is good – What does this mean for Mile High City golf?

Susan Fornoff //April 24, 2018//

Taking the temperature of Denver golf requires more than a thermometer, although that instrument could confirm that the gentle Front Range weather hasn’t hurt business these last two winters. Rounds rose by 3,000 in 2017, and revenue-over-expenses increased by about $500,000.

“Golf in Denver is very healthy,” says Scott Rethlake, director of golf for the eight facilities under the purview of the city’s Parks and Recreation department. “We have a public golf course operators’ meeting I go to every year, and everybody was doing better (in 2017) than they had the year before.

“Obviously, we’re in a situation in Denver where the economy is good, people are moving to Denver, and that helps everybody, even golf courses.”

The economy is good. People are moving to Denver. And the 2017 weather allowed golfers to play through December. Yet, Denver golf has merely held steady, at par for the course.

Statewide, the situation is similar. Colorado Golf Association membership ended the year flat, at about 60,000 members (including women, with the Colorado Women’s Golf Association newly merged).  Executive director Ed Mate suspects that the scorecard will show rounds also flat. “I would sum up the state of golf as ‘stable,'" Mate says. "I do believe there is a lot of growth to come with the success of our junior golf initiatives, but that will take time.”