Commentary - Addressing Key Issues

This section features articles, op-eds, and research that address key issues surrounding the proposed Red Hawk redevelopment — from the true state of the golf industry in America to rebuttals of misleading claims in local media.

Here you’ll find facts on record golf participation, industry trends, and why preserving our community’s character, environment, and quality of life matters. We believe informed discussion leads to better outcomes for everyone in Wingfield Springs and the greater Sparks area.

This is not just a golf course issue — it’s a community issue.

Read Entire Article from National Golf Foundation - Posted 2026

The golf course owner and his team have stated several times that Red Hawk is losing money and that the entire golf course industry is down based on data from 2008.  The information below shows more recent data that demonstrates golf is actually flourishing in the United States and from this, we would say these courses should be as well. 

The owner said recently that he would offer to sell the courses to the city or to another buyer and would finance such a sale.  This is an option the community would greatly like to further a discussion on to find a win-win solution for everyone. 

Summary of Article from National Golf Foundation:

According to the NGF’s 2025 Golf Industry Research, golf’s reach in America has never been stronger: an estimated 136 million Americans (age 5+) now engage with the game in some form—playing, watching, or following it—representing a remarkable 43% increase since 2016.Total on-and off-course participants stand at 48.1 million (age 6+), with 29.1 million playing on-course and another 19 million enjoying off-course formats like simulators and entertainment venues.
Rounds played at U.S. courses have topped 500 million for six straight years, marking the fourth record year in the past five and sitting 21% above the pre-pandemic average (2015–2019)—all achieved despite roughly 2,000 fewer courses than the early-2000s peak.
The data also highlights encouraging demographic shifts that point to a bright future:

• Juniors (under 18) on-course participation is nearly 4 million—the highest since 2004—and up 58% since 2019, with girls now comprising 35% of junior players (up from 15% in 2000) and People of Color making up 26% (up from 6% two decades ago).
• Female on-course golfers number 8.1 million, a record 28% of all on-course players and a 46% net gain since 2019.
• Young adults (18–34) show strong interest, with 6.3 million already playing on-course and millions more engaged off-course or expressing high interest.
• Beginners continue to flow in at 3.3 million on-course annually, supported by accessible off-course options that improve retention.

Supply-side trends are equally encouraging: the roughly 16,000 courses across 14,000 facilities have seen stable recent numbers and even a pickup in new development activity—the most since 2010—after earlier contraction focused mainly on lower-priced facilities.
In short, the NGF’s authoritative, data-driven snapshot demonstrates that American golf is vibrant, inclusive, and expanding—fueled by record participation, sustained high rounds, surging interest among women, juniors, and diverse groups, and innovative off-course formats that broaden access. Far from decline, these trends reflect a sport that has not only recovered strongly from past challenges but is thriving with fresh energy and wider appeal. The numbers offer clear reassurance: golf’s future in the United States looks decidedly upbeat.