Positive Outlook for 2011
Gaylord Golf Rounds Up in 2010
Gaylord, MI – The Gaylord golf courses enjoyed a positive year in 2010 with rounds increasing 4% from the previous year, according to the annual Gaylord Golf Mecca Rounds Report issued in January.
For the first time in five years the area courses saw golf rounds move upward, a sign that the Michigan golf economy could be turning around. Though rounds were not up significantly, the numbers are encouraging, since the past five years saw rounds decrease steadily.
The Gaylord Golf Mecca courses are comprised of five resort destinations and a total of 21 courses that make up the golf destination in and around the alpine village of Gaylord, Michigan. The courses collectively did over 260,000 rounds from mid-April through mid-October.
“The golf industry has been a rough ride over the past five years for golf courses and resort destinations due to the tough Michigan economy”, said Paul Beachnau, Executive Director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau. “We are optimistic that the uptick in rounds is a positive sign that the Michigan economy and consumer confidence is improving.”
The Gaylord area courses out performed the State of Michigan overall rounds played, which were still down 1.6% from the previous year, as well as national rounds, which were down 2.3%, according to Golf Datatech, a golf industry research firm based in Kissimmee, Florida.
Beachnau sights several factors that positively affected the Gaylord rounds.
“With the Michigan economy and confidence somewhat improving, consumers are looking for great value when taking golf trips and our courses have been offering great value. Consumers are also staying closer to home versus taking a golf trip to out of state destinations like Myrtle Beach, Pinehurst, or Florida, which will benefit not only Gaylord, but other golf destinations in Michigan as well.”
Kevin McKinley, director of Golf at Treetops Resort, who serves as the Chairman of the Gaylord Golf Mecca, believes factors such as the auto industry rebounding and the Pure Michigan campaign having a positive affect on rounds.
“The past few years saw the auto industry reach an all time low, which negatively affected the Michigan economy and our golf business in Gaylord, which has been dependent on the big three and its suppliers for over twenty years”, said McKinley. “Last year we saw the auto industry stabilize, GM make a comeback, and jobs starting to return, which we believe is improving consumer confidence and getting people back out traveling, even if it is within Michigan and closer to home.”
“We also believe the efforts of Travel Michigan and the Pure Michigan golf campaign over the past few years, including the use of local Gaylord footage in national media buys, has helped to increase our out of state golf business, which is higher then it ever has been”, continued McKinley.
The golf industry in the Gaylord area is one of the leading economic industries employing 1,077 employees with payroll over $10.5 million, and property tax contributions of over $1.1 million. Not bad for a small northern Michigan county with a population of 3,600.
For more information about the Gaylord Golf Mecca, visit www.gaylordgolfmecca.com or call (800) 345-8621.
Media Contact:
Fusion Media Strategies
Kevin Frisch
(989) 614-0241
