how much does a golf course lawn care cost

by Olga Grimes 4 min read

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. But of course, it’s also about location, location, location.

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

Full Answer

What is the average cost for lawn care service?

Sep 01, 2017 · When the recession hit, golf course superintendents faced the familiar challenge of trying to do more with less. Out of necessity, maintenance budgets were frozen or cut at many golf courses while the cost of many inputs – e.g., plant …

How much does it cost to maintain a golf course?

The average cost for lawn care service is $35. Hiring a lawn care service to maintain your yard, you will likely spend between $25 and $50. The price of lawn care can vary greatly by region (and even by zip code).

How much does it cost to cut grass in your yard?

Jan 25, 2016 · The biggest budgetary rise will be in mowing/cultivating equipment, with the average course spending $42,800 on iron in 2016 compared to $31,300 in 2015. Receiving the necessary financial resources to produce a quality product isn’t a major concern among superintendents entering 2016.

How much does it cost to build a private golf course?

Nov 09, 2018 · The typical club generates approximately 60 golf rounds per membership and spends between $1 and $1.2 million on golf course maintenance. These expenditures show a typical cost of approximately $54 to $62 per round or $3,300 to $3,400 per member for golf course maintenance, which hovers around 20% of gross revenues of the club.

How do you maintain golf course grass?

There are four main factors that go into giving your lawn that lush, golf-course look.Mow your lawn properly. Often, people take shortcuts when it comes to mowing their lawn. ... Apply the right fertilizer (at the right times). ... Use the right amount of water (and consider irrigation). ... Stop the weeds dead in their tracks.Apr 15, 2021

How much does a golf course mower cost?

Costs of Walking Greens Mowers The average cost of a good pre-owned walking greens mower is around $4,000.Nov 9, 2020

How much does a golf course spend on fertilizer?

Their average is$325,000, with a breakdown for fertilizer at $20,000 and chemicals at $18,000.

How much does Augusta National spend on maintenance?

Membership is believed to cost between $100,000 and $300,000 and annual dues were estimated in 2020 to be less than $30,000 per year. Club members are sometimes referred to as "green jackets."

How often do you mow a putting green?

once every three daysGreens typically need to be mown at least once every three days. Without that regular tending, they become overgrown. Getting them back up to speed is tough. Sometimes it's impossible, and the entire putting surface has to be reseeded, and you're looking at least two months before they're ready for play again.Apr 10, 2020

What fertilizers do golf courses use?

Use Turf Fertilizer 18-4-18 with 50% BCMU Greens Grade for greens and tees where a high potassium and phosphate fertilization is desired or when iron and manganese are needed to help correct or prevent deficiencies during the growing season.

What is golf course agronomy?

Superior golf courses depend on the expertise of professional agronomists. At its root, agronomy is the science of growing and maintaining plant life in the healthiest, most sustainable way. Golf courses depend on turfgrass that thrives within the area's environmental conditions.Aug 22, 2019

How much money does Augusta National make a year?

According to Huddle Up, however, the ANGC does pull in around $25 million from international broadcast rights. That's an important number, too, because the same story, based on extrapolations of the 2015 Golf Digest report, estimates that Augusta National's tournament profit in a normal year is around $30 million.Apr 10, 2021

How much does the groundskeeper at Augusta make?

The average salary for a groundskeeper is $14.61 per hour in Augusta, GA and $3,750 overtime per year.

Do golf courses 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.

What is the most frequently mowed area of golf courses?

Putting greens are the most frequently mowed area of golf courses and the associated costs are significant. Mower technology has improved to the point where triplex units can produce a quality of cut equivalent to that of walk-behind mowers.

How do trees affect golf courses?

Many golfers enjoy the presence of trees on a golf course, but trees also increase maintenance costs. Although the cost of planting a tree is a one-time expense that is easy to compute, few golf courses fully consider the long-term economic impact of trees. A tree may live for 100 years or more and a considerable amount of labor is required each year for trimming turf around tree trunks, removing debris, pruning branches and roots, controlling pests and ultimately removing a damaged or dead tree. Trees can also make it more difficult and expensive to maintain healthy and wear-tolerant turf, which affects golfer satisfaction in addition to the budget.

Why are roughs important?

Even though they usually are not maintained intensively, the mowing and equipment costs associated with roughs add up because of their large size. The cost of maintaining rough areas may be much higher in arid regions where rough requires irrigation and water costs are high. Out of necessity, many courses in the Southwest removed maintained rough in peripheral areas to cut down on water usage and save money.

What is PGR in agriculture?

Many courses have adjusted fertility, pest control, wetting agent and plant growth regulator (PGR) programs in an effort to cut costs. However, overzealous reductions to these programs is a double-edged sword. For example, timely applications of wetting agents can reduce the need for labor-intensive hand watering.

How did the recession affect golf?

These effects are not surprising given the challenges created by an oversupply of golf courses that is partially the product of the aging golfer demographic and declining participation rates among younger generations. Furthermore, extended periods of severe drought have increased the price of water and limited its availability for golf courses.

How to save money during the recession?

A common approach to save money during the recession was to suspend capital expenditures for course improvements, replacing turf maintenance equipment and upgrading infrastructure such as irrigation systems and maintenance facilities. In the short term, this tactic was reasonable and successful.

Does fertilizer save money?

Fertilizer and Plant Protectants. Carefully analyzing fertilizer costs can reveal some significant opportunities to save money even though fertilizer does not represent a major percentage of a typical golf course maintenance budget.

How much does it cost to mowing a lawn?

Lawn care professionals provide many different service outside of just mowing. Depending on where you live, and how long its been since your yard has been maintained, some additional services may be needed. Let's take a look at some common lawn services and their prices: 1 Lawn Mowing: Average cost $25 - $50 2 Tree Trimming: Average cost $250 - $500 3 Lawn Aeration: Average cost $80 - $175 4 Lawn Weeding: Average cost $20 - $40 /hour 5 Lawn Winterization: Average cost $350 6 Lawn Fertilizing: Average cost $40 - $60 /application 7 Lawn Seeding: Average cost for professional $700 8 Leaf Removal: Average cost $50 - $80 9 Landscaping: Average cost between $3,000 and $15,950

How much does a landscaper cost?

Hiring a landscaper for various projects, you can expect to pay around $50 to $100 per hour.

How much does it cost to kill weeds?

Using weed killer is usually the more expensive route and cost closer to the $25 - $40 per hour mark since you are paying for labor and the chemicals. Many weed killers are environmentally safe and pet friendly, but some are not. Be sure to consult a lawn care professional before making decisions on which path to take.

Does climate affect lawn care?

Climate also makes a big difference, especially in wet climates. This will dramatically increase your yearly cost because the rate of growth of your grass. Typically, a lawn care service provider will provide a quote based on the square feet of the yard and if there are any obstacles.

Can a lawn care company give you an estimate without seeing your lawn?

Lawn care companies that quote a price without seeing your lawn can’t be sure what you need and, therefore, can’t provide an accurate estimate. Top-quality lawn care providers will give you an estimate only after they’ve visited your home.

Is lawn care an investment?

Remember that lawn care is an investment. Your home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make, so you’ll want to protect that investment by ensuring your lawn is healthy and well-manicured. “The worth of well-tended lawns and gardens is measured in quality of life and home resale value,” HomeAdvisor says.

Why is fertilizer important for lawns?

This is where fertilizer comes in. Fertilizing your lawn is the best way to improve the health and appearance of your lawn.Fertili zers contain the necessary minerals and nutrients that your grass needs to grow to its full potential. But it is important to note that different types of grass require different fertilizers.

2016 State of the Industry Report - 2016 State of the Industry Report

Want a compelling reason to believe 2016 will be a better year for the industry than its immediate predecessors?

Projected capital budget for 2016

Golf Course Industry contracted with Readex to assist in the creation and to facilitate the distribution, completion and computation of the 2016 State of the Industry survey. This is the second year GCI has worked with Readex, an independent research company located in Stillwater, Minn., for this report.

BUDGET

Golf facilities that endured the Great Recession continue to give superintendents resources to produce quality results.

FINANCES

Public facilities experienced mixed financial results in 2016. Forty-three percent turned profits while 33 percent experienced losses. The split was 38-33 among private courses. Of all golf facilities, 67 percent turned a profit or broke even, a 2 percent decrease from 2015 and 4 percent decrease from 2014.

How much does it cost to install sod?

Whether you are installing sod, or artifical turf, it’s a labor-intensive process which requires expensive materials to complete. You should expect to pay as much as $4,800 for this to be done professionally.

How much does it cost to overseed a lawn?

Overseeding your lawn via a professional usually cost around $1,200, which you saw in my lawn care pricing chart. Overseeding can boost the health and appearance of your lawn by encouraging the grass to continue growing even when older and problematic patches die.

Why is fertilization important for lawns?

Lawn Fertilization. Fertilizing your lawn is necessary because it will help ensure your lawn stays healthy all year. When deciding on what kind of fertilization you will choose for your lawn, consult with your landscaping professional or lawn care company.

What happens if you don't take care of your lawn?

If your lawn doesn’t get the care and maintenance it needs, you will end up with a variety of problems, such as pests, browning, ugly thin patches, and even lawn diseases. Your grass can eventually die, as well. You don’t want to end up in this situation, so make sure you learn about all the care your lawn needs and the steps you can take ...

What is the process of aerating a lawn?

Lawn aeration is a process that puts holes in the soil that will allow more water and air to get to the grass roots. This promotes lawn health. Dethatching a lawn is another process that allows the lawn to breathe and get the nutrition is needs.

How much does it cost to hire a lawn mower?

Lawn Mowing. If you want to hire someone to mow your lawn, you will generally have to pay between around $30 and $80 for every visit. You will usually be charged a flat rate instead of an hourly fee for grass cutting. Of course, the larger your property, the higher the flat rate will probably be.

How much does it cost to install a sprinkler system?

Installation of Sprinkler System. To have a sprinkler system installed professionally, you will need to pay between around $1,700 and $3,400. The size of your lawn, the number of garden beds, obstacles, and even the type of soil you have can all impact the cost of installing a sprinkler system.

Buzzkill

Don't have midwest info but when I worked in Florida our budget for two 18 hole courses with 2 mechanics and 15 greenskeepers was $750K which I believe is low by most standards. This was a private country club too.

Pepperturbo

In my experience - some numbers quoted here are low. Maybe they are low end courses (not meant as an insult anyone), can't say. On average, courses in AZ and CA cost about 6M-15M, depending on course turf, turf equipment and facilities. An acquaintance bought a tournament level course years back.

HenryBall

If you are running an 18 hole facility with food and beverage ops here are some of the numbers you can expect#N#Food and Bev operation: 150,000#N#Golf related expense (flags, event signs, handicapping, pos software, staff, range balls, etc): 100,000#N#Maintenance: 200,000#N#Marketing: 75,000#N#Misc repairs/expenses: 100,000#N#These numbers may be slighlty skewed.

8orBetter

I'm sure the cost of gas is a budget buster for a lot of courses out there, especially with a weak economy where membership is cutting back either due to being laid off from work or just cutting back on expenses.

KennyLee

Way too broad of a question to get a good answer to without a ton more information. I've seen budgets that were $300k per year (goat track) and places where the greenskeeper made that much or more.

Tstiles

How much could one expect to spend on operating expenses for an above average golf course in the Midwest? I don't have much information to offer but would like some info on this. Thanks guys.

SFbaybum

Are you guys including other op expenses if you have more than a golf course (pool, tennis, etc)?

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