One of the city’s two courses, Fox Valley CC, has been closed while awaiting legal decisions about its proposed sale so it can become a senior housing development. Officials at the city’s remaining course, Phillips Park, say it has picked up some players from Fox Valley, but others have taken their business to other municipalities.

In northern New Castle County, large parcels of land are a rarity, and five of the 10 golf courses on private property north of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal are being developed or have been targeted by builders of residential and retail developments.