Ventura County Perspective : PERSPECTIVE...

Among recreational enthusiasts, golfers (next to fishermen, perhaps) are among the most passionate about their sport. Some evidence: According to the National Golf Foundation, which tracks the sport, golfers spend $15 billion annually on equipment, related merchandise and greens fees.

Furthermore, since 1986, the number of golfers in the United States has increased 33% from 19.9 million to 26.4 million. In that same time, the number of women golfers has increased 24% to 5.7 million, and junior golfers 50% to 2.1 million.

Perhaps even more significantly, the number of golf courses in the United States has increased 22% from 13,353 to 16,365. That accounts for both public and private courses. However, the great majority of golfers nationwide are public-course players. Those of us who are fiscally challenged know that to be fact.

The evidence seems overwhelming that golf is still a growth sport, even though industry insiders see a flattening of the trend over the next three to five years. But public golf won’t die like tennis did a decade ago (there was a time in the early ‘80s when you couldn’t find a open court), it’ll just settle in for the longer haul.

Whether or not there is a “need” for more public golf courses in Ventura County depends on whom you ask.

Ask public-course golfers who stand in line waiting for tee times at places like Westlake, Los Robles and Buenaventura and they’ll see a big-time need. Ask the course owners who relish waiting customers, and their response is likely to be more guarded. Who wants competition?

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At the heart of the question is the golf consumer. Are there enough of them around here to warrant more places to play, to spend their money and, more importantly, come back for more?

Nobody knows for sure just how many golfers inhabit Ventura County. But remember, golfers are transient people. Good golf courses attract players from all over Southern California. Regular expeditions to far-off fairways are the norm in this sport. In fact, it is that varietal quality of the game that attracts players, low- and high-handicap alike. As a golfer you want to play different golf courses. Why? Because it’s enjoyable and you crave the challenge.

Never lose sight of the clearest fact of all recognized by people in the golf business, those of us who teach the sport and those who are vendors: The 26.4 million golfers in this country play the game because it’s fun. Never mind that nary 3% are among the elite practitioners who play at or below par. The other 97% love the game for what it offers. Why else would they spend hours and dollars at such high levels. Nobody masters golf, but many try. Therein lies the perfect dangling carrot.

I’ve never seen an ugly golf course. Consisting of green grass, flowers, trees, water and sand, golf courses most often enhance the existing landscape and provide inspiring vistas on which to play. One trip around the 17-Mile Drive in Northern California, Sandpiper GC near Santa Barbara or the mountain course at PGA West provide ample evidence of a developer’s talent.

There are seven regulation daily-fee (public) courses in Ventura County: Simi Hills, Elkins Ranch, Los Robles, Camarillo Springs, River Ridge, Buenaventura and Olivas Park. Westlake Golf Course qualifies as an executive-type course yet sells 90,000 to 100,000 rounds a year. Is that enough to satisfy the county’s golfers, plus those who trek from the San Fernando Valley and Santa Barbara County, Orange County and Kern County? Who really knows.

But if you believe, as I do, that golf courses inherently aid their existing neighborhoods and strike a balance with the environment, then why not build more? Golf courses are beautiful addendums to nature.

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The key to answering the question of need, though, is private enterprise. More often than not, these bottom-line entrepreneurs see potential for profit. If they didn’t see a demand, they wouldn’t invest. Private enterprise is in place to make a buck. Period. Currently, there are three to five public courses on the drawing board for the east county alone. Most prominent among them (because you can actually see a brown hillside being turned green) is Tierra Rejada Golf Course at the intersection of the 23 Freeway and Tierra Rejada Road in Moorpark.

“We saw an untapped market for higher tier [read: higher greens fees] public courses,” said Tierra Rejada developer Ted Kruger of Crumpler & Kruger Commercial Real Estate Co.

“We’re planning on pulling golfers not only from Ventura County but from the San Fernando Valley and other parts of Southern California as well,” said Kruger, whose daily-fee course is likely to cost $80 to $85 to play and include services found at most private clubs.

Offering yet another perspective on the public spectrum is Paul Amann, president of Golden Tee Inc. who, along with Jack Nicklaus, helped develop the posh Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks.

Amann says he will begin construction on an 18-hole, 7,000-yard course called The Summit within 90 days on land owned by Simi Valley. “We were recently approved by the City Council on a $19-million bond issue,” says Amann. “We plan to open next Labor Day.”

It is Amann’s goal to create a golf experience for local residents that will include greens fees, a bucket of practice balls, beer and sandwich for a $50 bill. “Yes, there is a definite need for more public courses in this area. The Simi Valley City Council would not have approved us if it thought differently,” says Amann. “But we need ‘affordable’ public golf. And affordable means greens fees under $50.”

The Ted Krugers of golf see the need one way, while the Paul Amanns see it another. In either case, public golfers will be served.