Cities, towns and villages in Pennsylvania, Alabama, Oregon, Illinois, Georgia, Iowa, and California are devising new ways to make municipal golf courses profitable or at least stop losing money. Officials in Allentown, Pa., plan to reduce the negative balance in the city golf fund by developing a business plan rather than relying on a third-party management firm.

Sunset Landing Golf Course in Huntsville, Ala., has closed its doors, making it the second golf course in the city to close within four months. In Solon, Ohio, Hawthorne Valley Golf Club will close after failing to meet a goal of increasing membership to 300 by January 31.