Golf Q&A

story by Paul Leahy, Director of Golf at The Oaks at Margaritaville Lake Resort

Q&A With the golf pro

With the popularity of golf in the country continuing to boom the last several years do feel the Lake of the Ozarks could support another golf course? Anthony G., Sunrise Beach

As a course operator myself I am not sure another course is viable currently. The Lake area is definitely growing and more and more people are living here full time or for longer time frames. The issue is cost. It is very expensive to build and maintain a golf course, plus land acquisition in this market currently is extremely high, as evident by the housing market. Most facilities have inventory available even during the busy weekends of summer.

The local courses have certainly seen an increase in play over the past couple of years and we anticipate that continuing for a few more years. The issue is still the four to five months of unpredictable weather and lack of visitors coming to the area to play golf in the off-season. The courses do very well in peak season but until there is more demand during the other months of the year or inventory becomes so limited during the summer months, I don’t foresee another facility being built soon … but never say never.

How many times has St. Andrews hosted the Open Championship? John. G., Tipton

The Open Championship has been contested 29 times at St. Andrews since 1873. This July, the 150th Open Championship will be held at St. Andrews marking the 30th time it has hosted, the most of any course on the rotation. Currently every five years the Championship is contested at the Old Course at St. Andrews. Fourteen courses have hosted the championship over the past 149 years. This year’s Champion will join such greats as Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods by hoisting the Claret Jug as Champion at the Old Course.

Do you have a golf question for Paul? Send it to charis.lakesun@gmail.com.