Not too rough for golf community

As the coast weathers a sub-par economy, local golf courses are looking to get out of the rough and swing into action in 2009.

"We were flat this past year," said Jeral McCall, director of golf at Seascape Resort. "We had some washout days in August," he said due to weather.
 
"And merchandise sales were down in October and November."

However, December was "good for all of it."

One of the big differences McCall has seen this past year due to the economic woes is "people are waiting until the last minute to book. People are not planning as far in advance ... people are kind of waiting to see what they can do."

Nevertheless, he said, "Snowbird bookings are up as far as stays," at the resort. But it remains to be seen if they play a round of golf.

"We've got plenty of tee times available," he said.

"Our regulars are back and we're planning on a regular Snowbird season," McCall said.

Golf professional Jim Carpenter at Indian Bayou Golf and Country Club said, "We've certainly seen the effects," of the drop in the economy.

"December was down a little bit, but this is the time of year when you get a lot of people coming in," he said.
"We've got people playing," Carpenter said. "We're not dead, just maybe not as many in each group."

Craig Falanga, director of golf sales and marketing at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, says their golf game has "been affected a little bit," by the fluctuating economy.

"Our summer was strong like it usually is," Falanga said.
 
He said they deal with a lot of "golf package trips."
 
"You can't beat the beach experience ... which plays into who is going to come here and play golf," Falanga said. "We've seen a decent amount of play so far, but January and February are down a little bit."

Falanga, like McCall, has noticed that people are waiting longer to book trips.

"That window of time is shorter," Falanga said. He said two years ago, groups of 10 or 12 would have booked months in advance.
 
"We've seen that shrink," he said, noting now that it is usually inside 14 days. "But it's just a matter of adjusting."

"We made a commitment to maintain the golf courses and keep them up," Falanga said. "Even when times are tough, you've got to put out a good product ... and if you do they are going to pay the price. And it's paid off for us.

"There's a premium on vacations and people are still going on vacations."