The story of public golf in Detroit hasn’t been so rosy in recent years, but three area courses are rewriting their history. At Rackham, Chandler and Rouge Park, revenue is up 27% since last year. Here are some reasons why.

It’s undeniable there have been more golf course closures than openings in the U.S. over the past 13 years. But do you realize that more than 720 golf courses have opened around the country during that period? That total, during what’s looked at as a “down period” for the industry, is more than the entire golf course supply in nations such as Scotland, Ireland, Spain and South Africa.

Rockwood Park appeared headed for the same fate as two other Fort Worth municipal golf courses that closed, with no significant capital improvements over its 80-year history and deteriorating conditions that led to declines in revenue and rounds-played. Today, a $5 million renovation project is paying off — both for the city and golfers in the community.

Rounds-played were up 6.8% in April compared to a year earlier thanks to warmer temperatures in many northern parts of the country. Through the first four months of 2019, total play is up 1% year-over-year.

Latent demand is a measure of “non-golfers” who say they’re interested in playing golf — a number that’s risen to 14.7 million. But how many have some previous experience versus none at all? And how can the industry bring back those who have played before and welcome more beginners?