It's too early to write off golf here ("Cities struggle to address golf's decline," editorial, March 18). It's still a viable and economically important industry. Golf in Minnesota represents $1.2 billion in direct economic inputs, including 34,653 jobs, more than $776 million in total wages and $360 million in golf-related tourism. A recent industry newsletter reported Minneapolis (and St. Paul) as the 11th-healthiest golf market in the United States, with an annual demand in golf rounds of 5.9 million, a consumer base of more than 400,000 and an above-average ratio of 2,300 resident golfers per 18-hole equivalent. In short, Minneapolis benefits from a healthy golfer base, a wide variety of public-access golf and a reasonable price-for-value proposition for a major U.S. metro area.

With younger professionals and empty-nesters alike moving back into the city, it may be appropriate for community leaders to seriously consider reinvestment in these public assets.

Tom Ryan, Edina

The writer is executive director and chief operating officer of the Minnesota Golf Association.