Editor\u2019s note: This is the second in a series of three stories following a Standard-Examiner editorial board interview with Ogden City Parks and Cemetery Division Manager Monte Stewart and Ogden City\u2019s PGA Golf Professional Todd Brenkman on a broad range of topics including Gib\u2019s Loop Trail, a resurgence in the popularity of golf, getting more youths trail use and golf and coming projects. Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski also joined the interview.\u00a0<\/p>\n
OGDEN \u2014 In recent history, golf lost a bit of its appeal, both locally and nationally.<\/p>\n
But in the last few years, Ogden officials have seen a reversal of that trend at its two public courses \u2014 Mount Ogden Golf Course and El Monte Golf Course.<\/p>\n
Ogden City\u2019s PGA Golf Professional Todd Brenkman said a global catastrophe has actually brought the game back.<\/p>\n
\u201cGolf really took off during COVID,\u201d he said. \u201cThe first year from 2019-2020, the golf industry saw about a 60% spike.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said between 2019 and 2025, there\u2019s been a 99% increase in total rounds played at El Monte and a 120% increase at Mount Ogden.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we look at participation and getting people out to enjoy quality recreation, a global pandemic really was the shot in the arm for the golf industry,\u201d Brenkman said.<\/p>\n
Even with the COVID-19 pandemic largely fading to the background, Ogden\u2019s two courses are still seeing surging popularity. In 2024, El Monte saw 33,165 rounds played, a 20-year high. In 2025, that number rose to 38,459 rounds played. Mt. Ogden also saw another. In 2024, the course recorded 44,793 rounds played \u2014 also a 20-year high at the time \u2014 while 2025 has seen 54,096 rounds played.<\/p>\n
Brenkman said that prior to the pandemic, the courses were facing a lot of same headwinds that forced the closure or privatization of other public golf courses regionally and nationally.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe spent a lot of time on the front page of (the Standard-Examiner) for a number of things related to the city maybe looking at repurposing that property,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski said that the prospect of closing the courses proved unpopular with the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe community came out in droves in opposition to that and that\u2019s great \u2014 now we still have all of these acres for opportunity and access,\u201d he said. \u201cAt its origins, golf was a wealthy man\u2019s game. That\u2019s not the case anymore. This is affordable access.\u201d<\/p>\n
But it hasn\u2019t just been old golfers getting back to playing the game.<\/p>\n
According to Brenkman, the perception of the old game has been changing among youth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the mid- to late-\u201980s when I was in high school, I had to sneak in the backdoor with my golf clubs or I\u2019d get the crap beat out of me by some of my friends that I played other sports with because golf was not cool,\u201d he said. \u201cNow it\u2019s changed full-circle where now it is cool and everybody wants to be involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the threat of being beaten out of the way, he said the growing ranks of their junior golf programs are good for both business and those who participate.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get them into the game, the game gets its hooks, you retain them for life and that\u2019s good for the business aspect,\u201d he said. \u201cThe important thing to me is you learn a code when you play the game and I think it bleeds into life. \u2026 I view it as an opportunity to touch these people through a game that I love that hopefully bleeds into them being successful and productive citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brenkman said with the game growing locally and a mayoral administration that\u2019s leaning heavily into quality of life elements, the public can expect more investment in both public courses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mayor has made it very clear to us that recreation, as part of his pillars in healthy lifestyles, there\u2019s going to be tremendous investment,\u201d he said. \u201cWith the financial success of the golf course right now, we\u2019re not only able to re-invest in the product at both facilities\u201a and we\u2019ve made a number of significant improvements I didn\u2019t think I would see in my career, some of the financial success of the golf fund will allow me to assist the trail situation as well and we could expand the footprint of the winter offering as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said major improvements recently have included replacement of the irrigation systems at El Monte and Mount Ogden, a new event pavilion at Mount Ogden and ongoing renovations to both courses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is just the tip of the iceberg,\u201d he said. \u201cWith the direction I\u2019ve been given by the mayor, these pillars that guide us , the financial success, I\u2019m just getting started.\u201d<\/p>\n
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OGDEN \u2014 The Weber State University Presidential Search Committee will be seeking the public’s help in picking its …<\/p>\n
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