Travel: Golf phenomenon expanding here, throughout nation

When the Convention & Visitors Bureau conducted a visitor profile study in June, 8.5 percent of the people surveyed said they played golf while visiting Springfield.

Even more golfers could play on local links as word spreads about the quality of Springfield-area golf courses, especially the latest additions to the mix: Rivercut Golf Course, Spring-field Golf and Country Club, and Branson Creek Golf Club.

The quality of play in the Ozarks and across the state is turning Missouri into a golf destination, with travelers making the game their primary reason for visiting, according to Monte Schisler, tournament coordinator/marketing director for Bran-son Creek Golf Club.

Nationally publicized tournaments such as the 2001 Buy.Com Ozarks Open set for July 26-29 at Highland Springs Country Club also increase interest in the sport here.

The National Golf Founda-tion estimates there are more than 17,000 golf courses in the country. The rate of new golf course construction increased in the past 15 years from about 150 a year to more than 400 a year. The foundation also estimates 26.7 million people in the United States play golf, a 34 percent increase since 1986.

Springfield's courses see their share of players. More than 60,000 play annually on the 15 golf courses in the city, and about 170,000 rounds are played annually on the four mu-nicipal courses.

Schisler said the Ozarks could use even more golf courses with public access because golfers like to try different courses. Competition between courses wouldn't be an issue because there are more than enough players to go around, and the more choices available, the more interested golfers will be in visiting the area.

Andy Lambel, general manager and golf pro at Springfield Golf and Country Club, said the semi-private course that opened in March is exceeding expectations with about 175 rounds played daily. So many members are playing, in fact, that it's often difficult for non-members to get a tee time, he said.

That doesn't mean Spring-field visitors can't play a game of golf at a quality course.

"There are a number of outstanding golf courses here you can get on and play," Lambel said.

That includes Rivercut Golf Course, where 130 to 150 people play daily. Derek Poe, assistant golf professional at River-cut, said players, especially out-of-state visitors, are surprised at the scenic beauty and high-caliber play available on the public course.

"We like to say we're a country club for a day' for people," Poe said. "It's a championship-quality course. It compares very well to the private clubs we have here in town."

Quality also isn't lacking south of Springfield at Branson Creek, completed in April and selected one of the "Top 10 New Courses You Can Play" by "Golf Magazine." Branson Creek ranked in the top five on a similar list in "Golf Digest" which named it the "Top Public Golf Course in Missouri."

Besides Springfield players, about one-third of golfers at Branson Creek are Branson visitors and a growing segment are people who have corporate meetings on the grounds followed by a round of golf. In some cases, groups travel to Branson strictly to try their golfing skills.

"We're doing really well," Schisler said. "I don't think anybody ever thought a course this good would be in Branson. It's a course that should be out in southern California, or Scottsdale or Phoenix."

(Susan Wade is public relations manager for the Spring-field Convention & Visitors Bureau.)