The start of 2011 has been a rocky one for many local golf course owners due to the economy. Some Santa Barbara golf courses find themselves left with no other choice but to declare bankruptcy.

This has made it very difficult for many avid golfers I know, because affordable public courses are few and far between.

After the closing of Zaca Creek Golf Club in July 2010, more golfers than ever are crossing the “No Trespassing” signs to get together and play at the nine-hole course. Some have gone far to maintain the course using tools from home such as lawnmowers and putting mops in the golf holes.

If nothing else, it seems that this attempt to continue golfing there is bringing a community together.

Once a supporter and affiliate of the “Central Coast First Tee Program,” Zaca Creek had 125 children involved who were learning to play golf but were forced to leave once the club was closed.

Many golfers didn’t want to pay the $130 to play at other regular-sized golf courses in the area, so one option was to drive nearly an hour to the Santa Barbara Municipal Golf Course where the prices are practical. Yet with gas prices being so high, some might stop playing golf altogether.

Former golfers enjoyed Zaca Creek golf course because it was reasonably priced and the views were amazing, which may explain why quite a few people continue to play on the vacant turf today.

In 2009, authorities at Glen Annie Golf Club announced the struggle of their course; it was expected to fully close July 6, 2009 due to its $15 million dollar debt. The permanent closing of the course would have left 75 employees seeking jobs.

Glen Annie had more than 200 community meetings over three years to devise a plan to save the club. The owners, Valley Crest, saw an opportunity to use part of the 18-hole course for housing to keep the course open. However, the Goleta City Council rejected their bid to build on the property.

The Council majority who voted against pursuing the plan was focused on the property’s current agriculture zoning, which would require a general plan amendment to change, as well as annexation from the County. The con was that the county couldn’t afford the course, which was estimated to be about $6 million.

On the day of estimated closing, however, Glen Annie Golf Club announced that as opposed to closing its doors forever, ownership had been transferred to an unnamed group from Boston. A Bay-area golf course management company was also hired, called Touchstone Golf, LLC. In order to improve revenue, Touchstone said they would “keep the guest service and the course at the same high level,” as posted in the Independent.

Bottom line: support your public golf courses and swing away!