Erik Larsen doesn't see the decline in total courses as a problem; he sees it as a correction. Speaking with the Jacksonville Business Journal, Larsen explains that the building boom of the 1980s and 90s was driven by real estate, not by golfers. Today's boom is different: people are playing because they love the game, and private clubs are reinvesting accordingly.

For Larsen, the most important driver of play isn't design.

His 2022 renovation of St. Johns Golf Club eliminated weeks of weather-related closures, reducing lost playing days from several weeks a year down to just a few. That kind of infrastructure work, he argues, is what actually keeps golfers coming back.

His current work at Deerwood Country Club reflects this philosophy in full - a $17.6 million renovation that includes not just course improvements but a new six-hole short course called The Approach, designed to welcome families, beginners, and post-event play.