Golf courses weren't as popular in Salt Lake City this year as in 1992 - a fact that is fueling speculations over whether rain, a new high-tech reservation system or an organized boycott are to blame.
City officials blame the weather, noting that other courses along the Wasatch Front were down as well.A group of senior-citizen golfers, angry at a city decision two years ago to raise greens fees and to use golf money to subsidize other recreational programs, say their boycott and golf-course mismanagement are to blame.
The head of the Utah Golfers Association says the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.
City officials unveiled statistics this week showing the number of nine-hole rounds played on the city's courses this year were only 86 percent as high as in 1992. The figures don't include the number of rounds played during an unusual warm spell in December.
According to weather records, March and May were unusually wet this year. Nearly 4 inches of rain fell in May compared with 1.86 inches the previous year. However, most of that fell in a six-day period, and the number of cloudy days was virtually the same as the previous year.
Joe Watts, executive director of the Utah Golfers Association, said weather did keep some golfers away. But he said the city shouldn't take lightly the anger some golfers feel toward the city.
"There is, without question, significant animosity toward the city by some golfers," he said. "There are some who deliberately don't play city courses."
However, he said, other golfers without hard feelings may be filling the void.
Watts also said the city's new computerized reservation system, seen by some as too complicated, may have kept some people away after it was introduced in May.
"And really, the reservation system hasn't been tested, because during much of the year you could just walk on to city courses," he said.
But Catherine Hoffman, the city's public works director, noted that the number of rounds played since July were almost as good as last year. She said that is a reflection of good weather and of golfers becoming more familiar with the reservation system.
She said courses owned by Salt Lake and Davis counties also had a down year, although not as much as Salt Lake City. She and golfing officials agree part of the reason is that 1992 was an unusually good weather year.
The city planned for a drop in rounds in 1993 because of the higher fees, but the actual drop ended up less than expected.
"We think they (the figures) are healthy," Hoffman said. "We're pleased with the results. Even with bad weather, a new reservation system and the fee increases, we're pleased with it."
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Golf played: Nine Holes Rounds
1992 1993
Salt Lake City 579,849 -14% CHANGE 497,363
Salt Lake County 301,110 -7% CHANGE 278,868
Davis County 200,484 -7% CHANGE 185,897
NOTE: Figures don't include December 1993