"Five of the six courses I identified as likely to open in the next year or two are what might be called destination courses in remote locations."

John Paul Newport tries to figure out how many courses will be opening in the U.S. and wonders what kind of courses we will see built in the future.

I could turn up only four courses on track to open in the U.S. next year, plus one in Canada, and for 2013 just one more that seemed reasonably secure. There could be more, of course. The NGF tallies 45 new course projects (as opposed to renovations and additions) under construction, but most of those are stalled. A few courses tied to real-estate developments, including one on the Kona Coast of Hawaii and another in Ocala, Fla., are mostly finished and in some cases grassed but are awaiting more opportune moments actually to open.

Five of the six courses I identified as likely to open in the next year or two are what might be called destination courses in remote locations. Significantly, all are being built on sand, which can reduce construction costs by a third or more because sand drains so well. And all have a links-like, old-fashioned architectural style. (The sixth one is a more traditional municipal in Laredo, Texas.)

Also this from architect Michael Hurdzan:

"The determining factor five to 10 years ahead will be the preferences of the generation now between 25 or 30 years old and their mid-40s," said Michael Hurdzan, a veteran architect with more than 100 courses to his credit. "One thing we think is that they will want golf to be more of a family game. Teaching centers will be important. They'll want multiple ways to set up courses from 2,500 yards to 7,000 yards, and a more casual, less stuffy ambiance."