The popularity of golf has taken an apparent upswing this year and local golf courses are reaping the benefits. According to the National Golf Foundation (NGF), participation on the links increased for the first time in 14 years. Jack Jackson, managing partner at the Orchards at Egg Harbor says the golf season got off to a slow start but has really picked up lately. He says the trend is moving towards more nine-hole players.
Jackson says a lot of the Orchard members are retired and play golf in Florida in the winter before returning for the summer season in Door County. Golf is an $84 million industry that has over 1/3 of the population in the United States watching, playing or reading about it, according to the NGF.