Spokane-area golf courses, hammered by a several-year, recession-triggered downturn in activity followed by an abnormally wet spring in 2011, budgeted mostly for flat revenues this year but say they're seeing an upturn in rounds played.

Some of the public courses again have increased fees modestly in certain areas, hoping to cover some of their steadily rising costs without dissuading budget-minded golfers. Others have kept their rates unchanged from last year, or even lowered them in certain areas, to try to entice more people to come out to play.

Underlying the recent challenges here are broader, long-term national concerns stemming from data showing that the number of people playing golf has been declining. Several of the local golf professionals and industry overseers interviewed say, though, they're optimistic that activity on the courses here will rebound to healthier levels as the economy gains strength.

"It's going to turn around," says Ross Kelley, chairman of the Spokane Park Board's golf committee and a golfing enthusiast.

"May has turned out to be a great month so far" for activity and revenue at the city's four courses, Downriver, Esmeralda, Indian Canyon, and The Creek at Qualchan, Kelley says, adding that the courses "are in the best shape I've seen."

Also, he says, "2011 was one of worst years for corporate scrambles. This year, those are picking up again. We're getting more of those booked, and we're getting more people to sign up for them, so that's a good sign."

Still, the courses have a lot of ground to make up. A total of 139,832 rounds were played on them last year, which was down from 151,124 in 2010 and from more than 173,000 in 2007, declining each year since then, but they're up more than 3,000 rounds so far this year.

"We've had three, almost four wet springs in a row. If it wasn't for April (this year, following the wettest March on record), that's what saved us," he says. Last year, the city courses lost an estimated 13,000 rounds of golf in the first four months, he says, adding, "That's a huge number to lose, and you can't make them up."

Also, he says, "I think the recession is still hanging over us," noting that playing golf obviously is "not as important as food on the table or clothes for the kids." Additionally, seniors on fixed incomes have had to cut back, some perhaps even just to twice a week from three times a week.

For some, he says, "If they can't afford their medicine, they can't afford to play golf."

The city technically didn't increase its greens fees this year, but—in a change that Spokane County also adopted at its three courses—removed a 5 percent admission tax that had been embedded in its fees and now applies that tax on top of green fees when a golfer pays for a round, equating to a 5 percent increase in the overall charge.

On the brighter side, Kelley notes the city has reduced the qualifying age for an economically priced senior pass to 60 from 65 and has expanded discounted twilight rates to all of its golf courses.

Leroy Eadie, city parks and recreation director, says the city based its conservative golf budget for this year on an average of the last two years, and with rounds and revenue so far both up from last year, "It's looking good."

Doug Chase, Spokane County's parks, recreation, and golf director, says just over 93,000 rounds of golf were played last year at the county's courses, Liberty Lake, MeadowWood, and Hangman Valley. That was down substantially from about 100,000 rounds in 2010, even though the revamped Liberty Lake course wasn't open for the full season that year.

Those numbers compared with a more typical volume of probably 40,000 to 45,000 rounds per course, or roughly 120,000 to 135,000 rounds total, in years past when the economy was healthy, Chase says.

Like Kelley and Eadie, he says, "We're already off to a better start this year. I think we're very pleased to have much nicer weather than last. We have a conservative budget target equal to last year, and we're feeling very strong about being right on track with that, if not ahead."

In some cases, he says, the county courses appear to be picking up players who are playing spendier courses less often and "are now discovering some of our courses and how nice they are at such a reasonable fee. We feel pretty good about the future and that things will pick up ahead with the economy."

In all, more than 40 gold courses are located within about a two-hour drive of Spokane—including 18 in Spokane County—that collectively generate millions of dollars in green fees and related revenue each year and attract large numbers of visitors, including many from Canada.

Along with the seven courses owned the city of Spokane and Spokane County, the list includes a mix of other municipal and privately owned public courses, and a few private country clubs. Among the more highly touted venues are the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course, with its floating green, and the Circling Raven Golf Club, both in Idaho.

Standard weekend rates, minus any discounts, to play the 18-hole public courses range mostly from around $25 to $35, though green fees at the premier courses run much higher. The public courses here typically have between 30,000 and 50,000 rounds of golf played on them per season.

Privately owned Wandermere Golf Course, which is located north of Spokane and normally attracts 40,000 to 45,000 rounds per season, suffered last year like all other courses here because of the wet weather, but is off to a better start this year, says Bob Ross, one of the owners.

"Everything's weather related. Only God can tell me how we're going to do" over the rest of the season, Ross says.

Although the poor economy is continuing to affect the course somewhat, he downplays its significance, saying, "People always have to have recreation of some sort."

Wandermere kept rates unchanged this year, and also is continuing a $12 Tuesdays promotion it launched last year which equates to "a two-for-one type of thing," he says. Now, he adds, "It's our busiest day of the week."

John McGregor, recently named general manager of the 27-hole, privately owned Chewelah Golf & Country Club located 42 miles north of Spokane, says he expects activity at that course to be roughly the same as last year, but he's hoping for an upswing.

The course draws golfers from the Spokane area, often toward the latter half of the golf season, he says, adding, "We get quite a bit of Canadian play. Canadians love it. Golfing in Canada is pretty expensive."

McGregor says, "We're kind of a destination." The Chewelah course is beautiful, he says, but it's competing with courses closer to Spokane that also are offering various specials to attract golfing enthusiasts in the down economy.

"Our goal is to make it affordable," so the course offers things such as twilight rates all day every Monday and Tuesday—$30 for 18 holes with half of a power cart rental—and a golf-and-lunch special on weekdays—$38 for 18 holes and a shared power cart.