Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
A round of golf, whether an after-work outing for the casual golfer or competitive match for a serious player, is becoming a lucrative business in Indiana.
The results of a recent study examining the economic impact of golf puts the business of golf as contributing $2 billion to the state’s economy.
The 2022 Economic Impact Report from the National Golf Foundation found the game also provides more than $1 billion in direct expenditures annually to the state’s economy. The sport supports about 23,000 jobs and in 2021, the year the study data was collected, golf jobs generated more than $600 million in wage income from the sport and ancillary businesses.
Whitney Lubbers said she was not at all surprised by the report. Lubbers is executive director of the Dubois County Visitors Center and Tourism Commission and she said the area’s golf courses are a big draw with golfers seeking a round or two with friends, or stay and play packages that bundle golf and overnight lodging.
Dubois County is home to Buffalo Trace Golf Course and Sultan’s Run. Also nearby is Christmas Lake in Santa Claus.
“We’ve seen the positive effects of golf pretty heavily. Sultan’s Run is beautiful and it’s a destination golf course,” Lubbers said. “Already this year, our golf has increased dramatically and it was strong last year. Our golf packages have shot through the roof.”
Whitney Lubbers, executive director of the Dubois County Visitors Center and Tourism Commission
The recent announcement that Sultan’s Run will host the Senior LPGA Championship in June should boost the game’s economic clout even further.
Lubbers said organizers are expecting 7,000 to 10,000 people to attend the tournament.
“That will be a huge economic boost for our county and our region. It’s a multimillion-dollar economic impact with that number of people, not to mention the residuals,” Lubbers said.
Residuals are the after-effects of hosting a large event that brings in a new audience. Lubbers said that can translate into three to five years of more visitors coming to play Sultan’s Run because of the LPGA exposure.
Golf drives tourism dollars
According to Indiana Golf, which commissioned the study, there are more than 400 golf courses throughout the state, with 82% of them being public access.
Golf helps enhance Indiana’s tourism industry, generating $152.9 million in spending across more than 1 million day and overnight trips from cities such as Chicago, Dayton and Cincinnati, according to Indiana Golf.
Dave Harner, director of golf operations for the French Lick Resort, has seen the growth of golf in his 45 years at the resort. The Orange County resort is home to the Pete Dye Course, the Donald Ross and Valley Links, a 9-hole golf course.
“Golf is a big boost to our economy and brings a lot besides the golf revenue,” Harner said. “There are the spinoffs of food and beverage, transportation to and from and overnight packages.”
The Pete Dye Course, which opened in 2009, has become a destination golf course. The course was built on one of Indiana’s highest elevation points and offers 40-mile panoramic views of southern Indiana.
“It’s a very special golf course,” Harner said. “Our goal when we opened was 6,000 rounds a year, and it’s not an inexpensive day of golf. Last year we played almost 9,000 rounds.”
Each of the resort’s courses provide an experience seldom found in today’s newer course, Harner said.
The Donald Ross is an award-winning course built in 1917 and the Valley Links is well suited for beginners.
“If you go to very many golf courses and play, you might see traffic and houses,” he said. “Ours are secluded.”
The Pete Dye Course has hosted the Big Ten men’s and women’s tournaments, the Senior PGA and the Legends of the LPGA originated at the Pete Dye. Earlier this year, it was announced the Korn Ferry Tournament will be played there through 2028, beginning in 2024.
Harner said the national exposure from the tournaments as well as the reputation of the courses and the experience staying at the French Lick Resort bring more golfers to the area.
To keep them coming back, the resort places an emphasis on service and course maintenance – the Ross covers 140 acres, the Dye 320 acres and the Valley Links 60 acres.
To attract golfers from outside the area, the French Lick Resort runs national ads. Lubbers regularly attends golf shows in the Midwest. French Lick partners with Sultan’s Run on stay-and-play packages.
“What’s great is we have different levels of golf,” Lubbers said, referring to the ability of a golfer and how challenging of a course they want to play.
The 2023 Senior LPGA coming to Sultan’s Run is no accident for the course that features a dramatic hole on No. 18 with a cascading waterfall as a backdrop.
In 2023, GolfPass ranked Sultan’s Run No. 23 for friendliest course and No. 24 for best off-course amenities. In 2021, it was named to the 10 Must Visit Golf Destinations in the Midwest.
Volunteers and sponsors are needed to host the 2023 Senior LPGA. Those interested in volunteering or being a sponsor can contact Lubbers at the Dubois County Visitors office or Sultan’s Run.