how much can i make with a golf course

by Mr. John Doyle 7 min read

Even selling off some open space or a part of one hole to a residential developer that needs the land for zoning or environmental purposes might totally change the economics; a golf course only making $50K a year on a $1 million investment would have a 5% return but being able to sell off $300K worth without affecting operations would yield an increase in the ROI from 5% to about 7.1%.

Golf Course Jobs by Hourly Rate
Job TitleRangeAverage
GreenskeeperRange:$10 - $14Average:$12
Assistant Golf ProfessionalRange:$10 - $17Average:$12
Golf Course SuperintendentRange:$14 - $17Average:$15
Pro Shop ClerkRange:$10 - $15Average:$11
3 more rows

Full Answer

How much does it cost to start a golf course?

Oct 19, 2020 · How much profit can a golf course make? In 2015, 69 percent of golf courses broke even (24 percent) or earned a profit (45 percent). The profitability of these courses varies greatly, depending on their location, prestige, fees and amenities. Some just barely broke even on the year, while others brought in sizable profits.

How much land do I need to build a golf course?

Do you want to make money in the golf industry? If YES, here are 50 profitable golf related business ideas & opportunities you can start on a golf course. The Golf Academy of America estimates that the golf industry represents $76 billion each year, offering more than 2 million jobs.

How do golf course businesses make money?

How much does it cost to build a golf course green? Greens can make or break a golf course, and you must use the correct grass for the area that the golf course is built. The cost of greens can vary widely between $3/square foot and up to $60/square foot. The average-sized green on a professional tour is approximately 6,000 square feet. Links courses have larger greens than …

Is buying an unprofitable golf course profitable?

Overall, maintenance costs for running a mini-golf course can vary but mostly fall in the $40,000-$70,000 range annually. Now let’s talk about revenue. How much can you expect to actually make from a mini-golf course? Mini-golf courses tend to be very steady money makers in part because it appeals to all ages and is normally pretty cheap to play.

How profitable is owning a golf course?

Profitable golf courses are generally selling for six to eight times EBITDA, while courses that aren't profitable tend to sell at 0.8 to 1.4 times revenue.Dec 21, 2021

Is running a golf course profitable?

Buying a golf course is often a passion play. But with the right business savvy, it can also be a profitable enterprise.Aug 4, 2021

Do golf course owners make money?

The most common income streams are green fees, membership fees, pro shop sales, and food and beverage sales. While increasing membership fees or green fees might seem like a good way to increase revenue, it might put off more golfers than the additional income earned.

Is golf a profitable business?

Average net profit margins for privately owned golf courses and country clubs (NAICS 713910) have been negative for several years. Over the last 12 months, for example, golf courses and country clubs lost about 2 cents for every dollar of revenue generated by memberships, club shop sales and restaurant meals.Jun 29, 2014

How many acres does it take to build a golf course?

Quick Answer: The typical number of acres for an average golf course is 160 acres. The 160 acres number includes a small area for a practice area and a small clubhouse. The average number of acres that a golf course has can range all the way from 120 acres to 200 acres.Mar 18, 2021

How do golf businesses make money?

How to Make Money Playing GolfGet a Job as a Golf Pro. If you generally enjoy the game of golf and think you could handle a career in the industry, becoming a golf pro is a great choice. ... Play in Golf Tournaments. ... Place Friendly Bets with Your Friends. ... Become a Mystery Shopper. ... Get Sponsorships/Become an Influencer.

How much does golf cost per year?

By my estimates, the first year in the game can cost anywhere from $832 to $3,454 for juniors and $1,849 to $3,349 for adults. Those numbers are probably inflated since most places in the country can't play year-round.Mar 31, 2017

What is the profit margin on golf clubs?

After all expenses, the best golf retailers rarely profit more than 2-3% of the total cost of a club. However, as a whole, we can say that around 33.33% of the cost of a golf club is the markup from the retailer.Jun 25, 2019

What does it take to run a golf course?

The cost to achieve the condition players expect — or will tolerate — ranges from about $500,000 a year for a daily-fee course to $1,000,000 a year for a private club, estimates Bob Randquist, chief operating officer of the Golf Course Superintendent's Association of America.Jul 1, 2020

How much does it cost to start a golf business?

The costs of opening a mini-golf business vary, but typically run up $500,000. One professional group estimates that it will cost between $15,000 to $30,000 to put a deposit on the land lease, and a further $100,000 to $140,000 to make all of the necessary improvements to the land itself.Jan 27, 2021

How much does it cost to buy a golf course?

The median cost to build a golf course is $14 million, not including buying the land. The lowest-priced golf courses cost $7 million. Others cost as much as $25 million. Building greens is one of the most important tasks, and it can cost as much as $60 per square foot.Sep 6, 2021

How do you finance a golf course?

What are some common types of golf course loans?Conventional purchase mortgage with down payment.No prepayment penalty.25-year amortization.SBA 504.SBA 7(a) up to 150% LTV.Real estate only loan beginning at $1,000,000.Hard money.USDA B & I.More items...

Due to the spread of the coronavirus, is this business essential?

No. Under current guidelines across multiple states, this business is not classified as essential while emergency orders are active.For more inform...

What are the costs involved in opening a golf course?

The costs associated with opening a golf course are significant. The largest upfront expense is usually land, as courses can require 200 acres of l...

What are the ongoing expenses for a golf course?

The ongoing expenses for a golf course business largely consist of maintenance fees for the course and any buildings on the property. In 2016, the...

Who is the target market?

A golf course’s ideal customer is an affluent golfer. Such a person enjoys the sport, and they have the money necessary to go golfing regularly.

How much can you charge customers?

According to Golfweek, most privately owned golf courses charge an average of $40 per round with a cart on the weekend. Weekday prices tend to be s...

How much profit can a golf course make?

In 2015, 69 percent of golf courses broke even (24 percent) or earned a profit (45 percent). The profitability of these courses varies greatly, dep...

How can you make your business more profitable?

Golf course businesses can add additional revenue streams and increase profits by hiring golf pros who offer lessons, putting in a pro shop that se...

Is this Business Right For You?

Anyone who is well-versed in a variety of aspects of business and enjoys golfing themselves may be qualified to run a golf course. It’s important t...

What happens during a typical day at a golf course?

During the golf season, there are lots of day-to-day activities that must be done. A few include: watering and mowing fairways, roughs and greens c...

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful golf course?

Business owners that build a golf course from scratch should be familiar with golf course design. Even if they hire a golf course architect to actu...

How to market a golf course?

Golf course businesses can be effectively marketed through social media and online advertisements directed at area residents. Pur chasing advertisements on local sports radio stations is another effective way to raise awareness of a course.

What is a CO in golf?

A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met. If you plan to lease a location: It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO. Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a golf course.

Why is it important to have a clear plan?

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What is net 30?

The term "net-30," which is popular among vendors, refers to a business credit arrangement where the company pays the vendor within 30 days of receiving goods or services. Net-30 credit terms are often used for businesses that need to obtain inventory quickly but do not have the cash on hand.

Why is it important to record expenses?

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

What is a strong brand?

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

How to make money selling golf equipment?

Open a golf store franchise. You can open a brick-and-mortar retail store that sells golf equipment. To make huge profits, get your inventory cheap from wholesalers, manufacturers, and liquidation companies. A location close to a golf course is ideal.

How much money did golf lose in 2010?

However, IBIS World reports in 2010 that the golf course and country club industry is expected to lose $430 million thanks to unemployment challenges, maintenance costs and a dip in golf participating since 2008. Golf course owners can combat low sales with ideas for stimulating business. Making money from the golf course does not necessarily mean ...

What is mini golf?

Mini golf is for kids who love to play golf. It provides a great opportunity for them to master the game before starting the real version. If you enjoy working with kids or want to provide entertainment for families, you can start a mini golf course.

Who is Don King?

If you are a boxing fan, you most likely would have heard about Don King the famous boxing promoter ; he is a successful boxing promoter that is known all over the world. You can strive to be the Don King of golf and you don’t need to start this type of business by competing with world class sports promoter; all you need to do is to start from your local community. You can choose to promote sports events in your community that can attract some of the finest skills in your community.

What is golf cartoon?

Production of golf cartoons is yet another sports related business ideas that a graphic artist / animation expert can successfully start . The truth is that, if you produce a cartoon movie that has top golfers, football, rugby, wrestling, boxing or basketball players as characters then you are likely not going to struggle to get people to accept and purchase it.

Is it too expensive to take golf classes?

But taking golf classes might be too expensive for them or might not fit well into their schedule. And eBooks, too many of them, are not “practical” enough.

What is a sports bar?

A sports bar is a place where sport fans gather to watch televised sporting events such as golf events, soccer matches , tennis tournaments, basketball games, and so on. Many people prefer watching sporting events in sports bars due to the comfortable and lively environment they provide; as they can argue and feel the tense moments together. If you would like to tap from the opportunities provided by the increasing craze for sports, then starting a sports bar might be the best option for you.

How many people play mini golf?

It is estimated that every year over 130 million people play mini-golf, generating a total annual revenue of over $1 billion for course owners. Mini-golf is a lucrative business because it has great potential for growth ...

How many holes are there in a mini golf course?

Traditional mini-golf courses usually consist of one 18- hole course. However, having two 18-hole courses can be key to gaining repeat business and driving profits up. Having 2-18 hole courses give customers more variety and reduce crowding and lines, which is good for keeping customers around.

What is flat course?

A flat course is a boring course, some dips and dives add to the experience. Elevation changes can dramatically alter costs. Themes and structures. Depending on how extravagant you want your course to be, building structures to match the theme may cost the most of your building budget. Lighting.

When is mini golf season?

Mini-golf typically has an on season during the warmer spring and summer months and an offseason during the fall and winter. Zooming in even further, mini-golf attendance shows clear peaks and valleys during each individual week, typically being higher during evenings and weekends and slower during weekdays.

Is it cheap to run a mini golf course?

Despite the rather high startup costs, maintaining a mini-golf course is relatively cheap. The main thing that will cost you (besides employees) is the maintenance and upkeep of the course itself. The larger and more extravagant your course, the more it will take for upkeep.

Is mini golf profitable?

Operating a mini-golf business is an extremely fun and very profitable enterprise. Compared to a traditional golf-course, mini-golf offers cheaper startup and operation costs, as well as more consistent and varied clientele. One of the greatest challenges of running a traditional golf course is its management.

Is mini golf recession proof?

The reason why is that mini-golf is virtually recession proof.

What to expect when buying a golf course?

When you buy a golf course, there’s a good chance that you’ll acquire a lot of the customers that the previous management had gained. That being said, you’ll want to bring improvements to the operation that will impress both new visitors and seasoned guests. Once you give them an amazing first experience, you’ll need to keep people engaged with your company to keep them coming back over and over again.

How to grow a golf course?

The cost of a business doesn’t stop after you acquire it. If you want your golf course to grow, you’ll need to constantly invest into it. Customers will keep coming back to your facility if you provide them with the best experience possible, but to do that you’ll need to put your money towards things including: 1 Course maintenance 2 Your online presence 3 Staffing 4 Management tools 5 Marketing 6 Maintenance of your buildings (upkeep and cleanliness) 7 Adding practice facilities, simulators, games 8 Inventory 9 Events

Why do businesses need to worry about where they're located?

A golf course needs to be close to as many current and prospective golfers as possible so it can take its share of the largest possible market, without being in an area that is too competitive to stand a chance. To pick a location, you’ll need to look at a number of factors, including:

What do golf professionals need to know?

The golf professionals you hire need to not only have an in-depth understanding of the sport but also have amazing teaching skills. Offering lessons for kids and groups will introduce a family environment to your operation, create long-lasting customer relationships, and grow the game as a whole. 3.

What happens if a golf course is up for sale?

If a golf course is up for sale, chances are that it wasn’t making a lot of profit. This doesn’t mean that you can’t breathe new life into the operation, however. With clever marketing, you can retain any previous customers while targeting new segments of golfers and growing your sales. Data analytics are crucial as they’ll keep you on top of what’s happening and give you insights into customer behaviour.

Is it cheaper to buy a golf course or build one?

Buying an existing golf course is often less expensive than building one from scratch, but you need to carefully evaluate the design of the course and its systems. If the previous owner decided to cut costs on important areas, you might be the one to take the financial hit.

Is it possible to run a successful golf course?

Running a successful golf course is still possible for those who take a smart approach.

How much is Eagle Marsh?

Price: $4.9 million. Eagle Marsh is a Tommy Fazio-designed public course spread across 256 acres in an affluent, gated community in the heart of the Treasure Coast. The closest golf course to Hutchinson Island and its beaches, it is a premier South Florida golf destination.

How many holes are there in Brick Landing Plantation?

The 18-hole course at Brick Landing Plantation, known as “The Brick,” starts and ends along the Intracoastal Waterway and winds through coastal marshes. Located about 30 minutes from Myrtle Beach attractions, this semi-private course offers the benefits of a private club while still being open to the public.

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