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Last fall , fair weather and lower precipitation blessed the Virginias with unusually full tee sheets . Golf Datatech reported that rounds played increased 6.1 percent in November and 71.8 percent in December , contributing to a national year-to-date boon of 3.7-4.2 percent over a surprisingly strong 2022 .
However , reality intrudes when winter , fading light and diminishing playable hours force layouts to resort to other activities — or none at all . Many courses like Kiskiack in Toano , bereft of on-course homes , find themselves essentially “ inactive ” says general manager Brian Tarrrant .
Others , like nearby Newport News Golf Club with its two 18-hole Cardinal and Deer Run courses , keep on trucking . In two short years there , general manager Woods Woolwine has overseen on-course improvements and energized a once moribund membership . Normally NNGC runs its golf leagues from April to October before shutting down .
“ This year I had each league create a non-competitive winter series . It has been very successful keeping the players within the league active during the off season ,” he says .
In northern climes , some clubs send members outside to take advantage of platform tennis , curling , cross country skiing or sledding . Inside “ virtually every course I talk to has added simulators ,” says Stuart Lindsay of Edgehill Golf Advisors . “ They serve a dual purpose , indoor instruction or entertainment , i . e . play a course ,” he says .
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MARCH / A PRIL 2024 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 23