How Many Golf Clubs Will Disappear?

 

 

Golf is available around the globe, and according to a recent R & A survey, there were 33,161 golf facilities in 208 of the world’s 245 countries. 

 

The majority of the worldwide supply is located in the western hemisphere. North and South America are home to 55% of world supply; The U.S. alone claims 45% of the world’s total courses. 

 

Europe has the second largest regional share with 22% of the world’s total, followed by Asia with 14% and Oceania with 6%. 

With 60% of the world’s population on 31% of the earth’s land mass, Asia is home to 4,570 golf facilities, representing 14% of the total count. 

 

Thailand Has 250 Courses

 

Here in Thailand there are around 250 golf courses, mostly privately owned across the country.

 

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand golf vacations are the fourth largest contributor to the country’s tourism income.

So, golf is a big player, and employs thousands of Thais ranging from club house staff, maintenance crews and over 30,000 caddies.

 

Apparently at the end of 2019 Asia had 32% of all new golf course undertakings worldwide amounting to 176 new projects.

 

But that’s all changed big time, and since the Covid 19 Pandemic, many have been delayed or have stopped construction.

 

Here in Thailand, there is a premiere league of clubs that have first class facilities, and cater for locals, expats, and appeal to the golf vacationer.

 

They, with prudent cutbacks are likely to survive, even if their income for 2020 will come from locally based players.

 

However, if you are a country course, the tour operators are unlikely to include you on their customers itineraries. Golf vacationers like to mainly play the best 18 holes, and then enjoy the 5-star hotels in Thailand’s top resorts and cities.

 

How Many Will Survive?

 

Several courses in England have already gone into liquidation this week.

 

Expect many 2nd and 3rd division courses here in Thailand will also struggle to make ends meet. They, like the leading clubs, still have large upkeep costs in maintaining 18 holes and will have staff bills to pay as well.

 

Some courses in holiday locations maybe snapped up by savvy investors, with funds to upgrade the course and club house. 

 

But many, especially privately owned, my find the only option is to sell the land for development or to just shut the doors and let the grass grow.

 

 

 

Sorry to be a nerd but there's only 195 countries in the world

7 hours ago, tiocfaidh said:

Sorry to be a nerd but there's only 195 countries in the world

Yeah, but I don't think golfers really care about that... 

 

When I read the headline, I thought maybe there were a lot of 5 irons and putters that had disappeared..

Worrying time for many golf course owners . If they can cover their running costs or even lose a little in the mean time  until the virus is controlled then they can survive . Reduced  wages to preserve jobs would be unpopular but understood , reduction in green fees or attractive 1 year membership specials would attract more golfers who also spend in the bar and restaurant .  The aim is to survive until the good times come back soon I hope . However if the Thai  way of rescuing an ailing business by increasing prices is used then the writing is on the wall.

6 minutes ago, superal said:

Worrying time for many golf course owners . If they can cover their running costs or even lose a little in the mean time  until the virus is controlled then they can survive . Reduced  wages to preserve jobs would be unpopular but understood , reduction in green fees or attractive 1 year membership specials would attract more golfers who also spend in the bar and restaurant .  The aim is to survive until the good times come back soon I hope . However if the Thai  way of rescuing an ailing business by increasing prices is used then the writing is on the wall.

Same goes for gym owners, everyone is suffering. 

Since I was shut out from returning to Thailand, I have been staying in Hilton head SC, less golfers than usual but still plenty to make a profit for course. I receive messages from caddies and friends in Chiang mai, they are still playing and caddies are still getting work but not as busy as it would be normally. Places that have a short season like UK and Canada will be hurting because season is short and enough money cannot be made in a that short period. Golf is one of the few recreations right now where you can get away from the madness for a few hours and enjoy sunshine, conversation, and a bit of exercise. 

Hopefully all the clubs that said "Thai's Only" during the pandemic. Like Waterford Valley in Chiang Rai province.

 

You all have sufficient self-respect not to go back, don't you?

9 hours ago, tiocfaidh said:

Sorry to be a nerd but there's only 195 countries in the world

Not bad for a nurd,   ???? 

Scroll All the way Down Please

The Number of Countries in the World

PRINT 

ThoughtCo / Vin Ganapathy

Geography

• Country Information
• Basics
• Physical Geography
• Political Geography
• Population
• Key Figures & Milestones
• Maps
• Urban Geography

By 

Matt Rosenberg

Updated February 27, 2020

The answer to the seemingly simple geographical question of "How many countries are there?" is that it depends on who's doing the counting. The United Nations, for example, recognizes 251 countries and territories.1 The United States, however, officially recognizes fewer than 200 nations.2

 

 Ultimately, the best answer is that there are 196 countries in the world. Here's why.

 

United Nations Member States

There are 193 member states in the United Nations.3 This total is often cited inaccurately as the actual number of countries in the world; it's inaccurate because there are two other members with limited status. Both the Vatican (officially known as the Holy See), which is an independent nation, and the Palestinian Authority, which is a quasi-governmental body, have been granted permanent observer status at the United Nations. These two entities can take part in all official UN activities but cannot cast votes in the General Assembly.

 

Likewise, some nations or regions of the world have declared their independence and are recognized by a majority of UN member states yet are not part of the United Nations. Kosovo, a region of Serbia that declared independence in 2008, is one such example. 

 

Nations Recognized by the United States

The United States officially recognizes other nations through the State Department. As of March 2019, the State Department recognized 195 independent countries around the world.2 This list reflects the political agenda of the United States of America and its allies.

 

Unlike the United Nations, the United States maintains full diplomatic relations with Kosovo and the Vatican. However, one nation is missing from the State Department's list that should be on it.

 

The Nation That Isn't

The island of Taiwan, formally known as the Republic of China, meets the requirements for an independent country or state status. However, all but a handful of nations refuse to recognize Taiwan as an independent nation. The political reasons for this date back to the late 1940s, when the Republic of China was ousted from mainland China by Mao Tse Tung's communist rebels and ROC leaders fled to Taiwan. The communist People's Republic of China maintains that it has authority over Taiwan, and relations between the island and mainland have been strained.

 

Taiwan was actually a member of the United Nations (and even the Security Council) until 1971 when mainland China replaced Taiwan in the organization. Taiwan, which has the world's 29th-largest economy, continues to press for full recognition by others. But China, with its growing economic, military, and political clout, has largely been able to shape the dialogue on this issue. As a result, Taiwan cannot fly its flag at international events such as the Olympics and must be referred to as Chinese Taipei in some diplomatic situations.

 

Territories, Colonies, and Other Non-Nations

Dozens of territories and colonies are sometimes erroneously called countries but don't count because they're governed by other countries. Places commonly confused as being countries include Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Greenland, Palestine, and Western Sahara. The components of the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England) are not fully independent countries, either, though they do enjoy a degree of autonomy. When dependent territories are included, the United Nations recognizes a total of 241 countries and territories. 

 

So How Many Countries Are There?

If you use the U.S. State Department's list of recognized nations and also include Taiwan, there are 196 countries in the world. The same number is reached if you count the UN voting members, its two permanent observers, and Taiwan. This is why 196 is probably the best current answer to the question.

27 minutes ago, bruce Collard said:

Hopefully all the clubs that said "Thai's Only" during the pandemic. Like Waterford Valley in Chiang Rai province.

 

You all have sufficient self-respect not to go back, don't you?

Incredible ignorance and discrimination that borders on racial equality and a criminal offence in many western countries .   So now you know what Waterford Valley G.C. think of non Thais . I will not be going there for that reason , would like to know of other clubs that have done the same thing so as to have a list where not to visit .

BTW I was refused dental treatment twice the same day because I am a farang and may have the virus . 

"Expect many 2nd and 3rd division courses here in Thailand will also struggle to make ends meet. They, like the leading clubs, still have large upkeep costs in maintaining 18 holes and will have staff bills to pay as well."

 

I have to disagree with this statement by the OP.  The majority of 2nd & 3rd division courses here in Thailand are owned and run by either the Army, Navy, Air Force, EGAT or some other Govt agency. So the chances of those courses disappearing are minimal. Yes there are a small handful of Div 2 & 3 courses that are not owned and operated by these govt bodies, e.g. Hang Dong, and they may struggle to survive, but I'd be surprised if they ceased to operate as a golf course.

Edited July 17, 20205 yr by TigerandDog
spelling correction

1 hour ago, bruce Collard said:

Hopefully all the clubs that said "Thai's Only" during the pandemic. Like Waterford Valley in Chiang Rai province.

 

You all have sufficient self-respect not to go back, don't you?

Will you go to the golf course owned by the foreigner-hating health minister, in Khao Yai?

Don't know about clubs, but my putter is getting smaller by the month with this lockdown.

Unless I win a lottery this is of zero consequence to moi. 

13 hours ago, bruce Collard said:

Hopefully all the clubs that said "Thai's Only" during the pandemic. Like Waterford Valley in Chiang Rai province.

 

You all have sufficient self-respect not to go back, don't you?

Like you that is what i would like to see,but it aint gonna happen. 2 Navy courses in Sattahip..Fleet and Marine both no foreigners allowed when the courses reopened, 5/6 weeks later they are allowed and expats foreigners are playing again......very very disappointing.

Both those courses will never see me again.....well maybe as i go by.

On 7/16/2020 at 2:39 AM, Thaivisa Golf said:

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand golf vacations are the fourth largest contributor to the country’s tourism income.  So, golf is a big player, and employs thousands of Thais ranging from club house staff, maintenance crews and over 30,000 caddies.

 

Golf tourism in Thailand is mostly a distraction for when the hookers are sleeping it off.  Still, it's a great cover for guys who come to Thailand...  Bring the sticks and tell everyone you're off on a golf holiday (wink, wink)

 

Edited July 17, 20205 yr by impulse

20 hours ago, Grusa said:

Will you go to the golf course owned by the foreigner-hating health minister, in Khao Yai?

Give us a clue , there are at least 3 golf courses there , so which one? I have played the Bonanza and Rancho Charnvee 

5 hours ago, superal said:

Give us a clue , there are at least 3 golf courses there , so which one? I have played the Bonanza and Rancho Charnvee 

Rancho Charnvee, with its private airstrip, 5star hotel, etc., etc.

Wow. If I was a Thai multi billionaire golf course owner (who make their fortune with a business that has nothing to do with golf) I too would be having sleepless nights worrying if my golf course was going to be among the 30% that fail and is turned into farmland.

I recently found out a club i worked for for 12 yrs is closing down - trying times ahead !

On 7/18/2020 at 12:59 AM, impulse said:

 

Golf tourism in Thailand is mostly a distraction for when the hookers are sleeping it off.  Still, it's a great cover for guys who come to Thailand...  Bring the sticks and tell everyone you're off on a golf holiday (wink, wink)

 

Well done with that pathetic remark, got your post count up by one.

4 hours ago, mighty said:

Well done with that pathetic remark, got your post count up by one.

 

Oooh.  Must have hit a nerve, eh?

 

On 7/18/2020 at 3:05 PM, Grusa said:

Rancho Charnvee, with its private airstrip, 5star hotel, etc., etc.

Yes , remember now seeing aviation activity on the course at slightly higher ground , if my memory serves me right .

20 hours ago, Big Joke said:

Wow. If I was a Thai multi billionaire golf course owner (who make their fortune with a business that has nothing to do with golf) I too would be having sleepless nights worrying if my golf course was going to be among the 30% that fail and is turned into farmland.

Actually, National Park land, it has been alleged.

Edited July 20, 20205 yr by Grusa
correction.