We made it to 2025 , a new golf season and new challenges . Will we play better and score lower this year ? Will the courses remain full and tee times scarce ? Will tariffs make golf equipment even more expensive ? Will we freely give even more gimmes this year than last ? So many unknowns . Nevertheless , the new year promises many new opportunities and , hopefully , fun times on the course .

We enter our 25th year publishing this magazine , and like many of you , it ’ s easy for me to remember back to 2000 when we first started . Tee times were readily available , and there were steady offerings of discounted golf rates . Then . 2020 rolled in , and everyone wore a facemask , was cooped up indoors , forced to work from home , and ultimately revolted by heading outdoors , flooding golf courses — and justifiably so , golf courses offer beautiful environments to enjoy a facemask-free , stress-free experience in the great outdoors . Now , five years later , golfers are still flooding the courses , available tee times remain scarce , and the discounted golf rates are gone — great news for the golf industry and owners who can finally make a profit . Up until 2020 , that was not always the case . It ’ s yet to be seen if this positive growth will be sustainable , but based on courses remaining full last summer and fall , the golf business looks promising for 2025 .

We ’ ve all heard and seen the news headlines lately talking about tariffs . Will tariffs make golf equipment even more expensive ? I can assure you that for small and large businesses alike , mentioning higher tariffs is the worst kind of four-letter word ! Why ? Simple , it will cost businesses and , ultimately , consumers more for nearly every product they buy . Golfers will not be immune . The cost of golf equipment will likely increase as well . Golf clubs , bags , balls , shoes , gloves , tees , apparel , umbrellas , and other miscellaneous items are mostly made overseas , including China , Mexico , and Canada . The best way to know is to look at boxes , packaging , and tags in apparel .

There are several golf club manufacturers with made-in-America equipment , including Callaway , Cobra , and TaylorMade , all made in California , and a few like Tour Edge in Illinois . Titleist has factories in the United Kingdom and Australia . However , club heads for many companies are made in countries with steel mills , like Japan , China , and Canada . Club heads are then “ assembled in the U . S .” According to the American Institute of Steel Construction , the top five countries exporting steel to the U . S . are Canada , Mexico , Brazil , South Korea , and Japan . Together , these countries account for over 80 percent of all U . S . steel imports .

Of the top five producers of urethane golf balls , three manufacture them from core to cover in the U . S . TaylorMade manufactures a portion of its golf balls in the U . S . Srixon makes 100 % of its products at overseas factories .

You may want to pay attention to new tariffs , and “ if ” they , in fact , happen , you might want go buy that new set of clubs or golf bag you ’ ve been eyeballing sooner than later !

If you are not sure what set of clubs works best for you , you can test-drive them at the 2025 Kansas City Golf Show in February ( see the news on page 8 ). Watch for our February special KC Golf Show issue , which will have full golf show coverage and a list of exhibitors .

Meanwhile , enjoy each round of golf played in the new year while focusing on having fun , enjoying friendships , the scenery , gimmes , and mulligans .

6 January 2025 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE

Our Mission — To Promote Golf 365 Days a Year .

Tee Times Golf Guide™ Inc . Mailing Address : P . O . Box 485 , Grain Valley , MO 64029 Corporate Office : 816.886-9017

Publisher , Bill Cromwell , Editor-in-Chief For Advertisement Placement and News / Article Requests Editor @ TeeTimesMagazine . com

Managing Editor / VP of Operations Victoria Cromwell , VP @ TeeTimesGG . com

Creative Designers , Graphic Arts , Photography Bill and Victoria Cromwell

● Roving Course Analyst : Mike Hull and Ron Underwood

● Field Ambassador : Deanie Olinger

Our Team of the Best Contributing Golf Writers in KC Alan Hoskins — Lead Feature Writer Gianna Augustine — Golf Tips & Instructional Articles John Baccala — Professional Golf Course Profiler Ann E Butenas — Midwest Section PGA News Eddie Hall — Equipment Reviews & Clubfitting Tips Courtney Mahon , LPGA — Golf Tips & Instruction Baile Stephenson — Central Links Golf & Junior Golf News Guest PGA — Golf Tips & Instruction

Association News Features : CLG ( Central Links Golf Association ) – Monthly News Midwest Section PGA – Features and News GCSAA ( Golf Course Superintendents Association of America ) – News

Tee Times Golf Guide Magazine offers a monthly Kansas City golf magazine that is distributed throughout western Missouri , eastern Kansas and the Lake of the Ozarks area . Printed copies are found at nearly 300 locations including public and private golf courses , driving ranges , golf stores , restaurants , sports bars , resorts , hotels and many other select locations . In addition , the magazine is offered online as an inter-active E-magazine at www . TeeTimesMagazine . com .

NOTICE : The editor reserves the right to reject whatever material does not fit with the vision or intent of this publication . Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the publisher and does not imply endorsement . The contributing writers , staff or owners of TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE™ Inc . cannot be held liable for hardship or losses incurred due to content associated with this publication or website . Written views and information expressed in this publication belong to the writers and do not reflect the sentiments or editorial opinion of the publisher or staff . We cannot be held responsible for scheduling , prices , rate changes or the occasional typographical errors .

NOTICE : Advertisers have the right to terminate promotions or special offers / coupons , change rates or fees without notice . All listed guides , rates , fees and information herein are non-binding reference material only . Always check with listed courses for updated rates and special offers .

View our online E-magazine at www . TeeTimesMagazine . com . This Magazine is Proudly Endorsed by the

Tee Times Golf Guide Magazine January 2025 | Page 6

From The Editor Kansas City ’ s Longest Running Monthly Golf Magazine

A New Golf Season Has Arrived