News Wire

The Quarry at Giants Ridge is ready for play

BIWABIK, Minn. —The Quarry at Giants Ridge opened for public play on July 1 to great expectations. The second Jeffrey D. Brauer-designed course at the facility is expected to challenge for supremacy among Minnesota's daily-fee golf courses. Its sister course, The Legend at Giants Ridge, has been ranked the state's No. 1 Public Golf Course and gained a 4.5-star rating on a scale of 5.0 in Golf Digest's "Top Places to Play."

"The topography already existed," said Brauer. "We wanted to enthrall golfers with its beauty, entice them to partake in a lot of risk-reward situations and multiple-option tee shots, and generally have an unforgettable round. That kind of experience will bring them back, which, ultimately, is success."

Stunning bunkering, rolling fairways, flowing fescues and numerous "flashbacks" to the site's mining history characterize this new gem from Brauer, who was charged with designing a tournament-quality layout worthy of attracting major events to this golf and ski resort.

Minnesota's Iron Range Resource and Rehabilitation Agency (IRRRA) has worked diligently to turn former mining land into revenue-producing property. It has met with success, with the state's top-ranked ski area as well as Giants Ridge's original course and new hotel.

"I think this second golf course completes the four-season recreational opportunities for Giants Ridge," said IRRRA development director Mike Gentile. "It makes Giants Ridge truly now a golf destination area, where the visitor can come in for multiple-day stays and play two different courses."

Dow AgroSciences adds to Curfew team in Florida

INDIANAPOLIS — To meet increased demand for Curfew soil fumigant in Florida, Dow AgroSciences has added LESCO and Harrell’s as agents. The company has also named Hendrix and Dail Inc., a Florida turf management company specializing in nematode control, as a new certified, authorized applicator.

"Our new agents and applicator will enable us to accommodate golf course superintendents who want Curfew applied to their fairways and tees during the next couple months, especially in the Florida Panhandle," said Dennis Lane, Dow AgroSciences product manger. They join current agents UHS and Golf Ventures/Helena and two applicators, International Turf Applicators and Southern Soil Turf Management.

Only certified applicators, trained and authorized by Dow AgroSciences, can apply Curfew. The liquid soil fumigant, which received a 24(c) registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the state of Florida this year, offers improved rooting and provides effective control of parasitic plant nematodes – microscopic organisms that feed on and damage turfgrass roots.

According to a company spokesperson, Dow AgroSciences is working to gain registration for Curfew in South Carolina and expand the product label for use on greens.

Vacation golf travel remains flat, business golf travel declines

Jupiter, Fla. — According to the NGF’s U.S. Golf Travel Market Report, 2003 Edition, the number of golfers who reported taking an overnight trip that included golf in 2002 was 11.0 million, down 4 percent from 11.5 million in 2001. The decrease was driven primarily by a drop in the number of business golf travelers. In fact, the number of vacation golf travelers only dropped 1 percent compared to 25 percent for business golf travelers.

Global Insight Inc. reported capital spending by businesses dropped 5.7 percent in 2002 and 5.2 percent the year before, the worst two-year decline since World War II. Nearly half of corporate managers surveyed by the National Business Travel Association said corporate profit estimates drove down travel in their companies.

A combination of fewer golf travelers combined with lower average spending resulted in lower total golf travel spending: $19.5 billion in 2002 vs. $26.1 billion in 2001, a 25 percent decrease. Average annual spending on golf travel declined 21 percent from $2,270 in 2001 to $1,800 in 2002. Again the decrease among business golf travelers was greater than that of vacation golf travelers.

Reasons for decreases in annual spending on golf travel:

• Fewer trips in 2002 included air travel than in 2001.
  
• Average rounds were down 5 percent, among those who went on golf trips, from 5.8 million in 2001 to 5.5 million in 2002.
  
• Many tourist destinations dropped rates to attract visitors and some golf facilities lowered green fees.

"The outlook for 2003 is positive," reported Jim Kass, director of research for the NGF. "As of this writing, the stock market has enjoyed gains for three consecutive months and some analysts believe the bear market is over. Combined with the dwindling military action in Iraq, the improving consumer confidence should be conducive to both consumer and business spending - and hopefully a resurgence of golf travel and a return to 2001 levels."

The Sunbelt states are the most popular golf destinations within the U.S. Florida and South Carolina are the most popular states for both where golfers have visited and played, 44 percent and 28 percent respectively, and where golfers consider for their next golf trip, 47 percent and 35 percent. This is in line with the promise of good weather being the top consideration when choosing a golf destination.

For more information on the NGF’s U.S. Golf Travel Market Report, 2003 Edition; Frequent Golf Travelers: Attitudes and Behaviors; and other NGF research reports, contact the NGF at 561-744-6006.

Seifert launches Alliance Golf Realty

Charlottesville, Va. — Ross Seifert, CCIM, has launched Alliance Golf Realty to provide real estate brokerage services to sellers and buyers of golf properties.

Alliance aims to succeed as a boutique firm whose sole focus is golf property transactions. While other brokerages are clearinghouses for consulting, feasibility, appraisal and development concerns, Alliance will deliver personalized, expert attention to the listing and sale of golf assets for clients who desire smooth, swift transactions.

"The past few years have been tough on golf course owners, lenders and developers who have gotten some bad advice to overbuild from national organizations," said Seifert. "We see a real opportunity to help sellers and buyers maximize value by facilitating transactions in the golf business, and we will bring unique professionalism and focus to that space."