Quarry Ridge owner Mark Augustyniak says the annual golf outing has brought many beginners to the course for the past 16 years.
SYLVANIA, Ohio – Quarry Ridge Golf Course is just a few miles from the annual Dana Open. Its owner, Mark Augustyniak, said during the time he was there, many children took up the sport after watching the professional women compete.
“What we’ve seen in the last 16 years is the growth right after the tournament. People get excited about the game, they come out,” Augustyniak said.
He said the women-only outing brings a lot of young girls to the course, but it also inspires the boys who want to be like their idols.
“The boys – the same. They have all their Ricky Fowler stuff so it’s really great to see them all come out and play,” he said.
The tournament was moved from its usual mid-July date this year to fit in with other LPGA tournament schedules. Augustyniak said this could actually keep the momentum going for the young golfers and help attract more people.
But it’s not just after the tournament that children and their families come onto the pitch. He said it’s a year-round family affair.
“We have a lot of families here, mostly children, and then the children bring the parents,” Augustyniak said.
From restaurants to movie theaters, the COVID pandemic has negatively impacted many businesses. But Augustyniak said golf, by its very nature, has actually benefited from the pandemic by being an outdoor activity and necessarily a socially distanced activity.
Golf courses have actually increased their player base by 50% to 60%.
He said his course isn’t the only one in the area experiencing the impact, and other country clubs and courses he’s spoken to have also experienced the growth.
Kids and other players can still come to Quarry Ridge for lessons, and in the winter, golfers can take advantage of the heated indoor driving range, which is one of the only ones in the area.
Comments are closed.