The little 9-hole course where I play (senior $15, regular $18) had been packed until just this year. I don’t see how they managed to attract paying golfers in the depths of the downturn (2009-2012) but can’t now that things are somewhat better, although hardly booming.
Unfortunately, the slow players and idiots are still coming....
I don’t think the economy has improved.
I pack a slingshot in my bag in case I run into the “5 practice swings before every shot “ guy.