how much does it cost to own and operate a 9 hole golf course

by Prof. Minerva Braun V 6 min read

How much does it cost to build an 18 hole golf course?

One couple in New York built their own course, which they expect to cost $1.5 million by the time all 18 holes are installed. A third of their budget ($500,000) went towards land and a building. Additionally, this couple cleared the land, designed the course and built the holes themselves, which kept costs down.

How much does it cost to open a golf course business?

For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice. A golf course is generally operated on a large acreage of land, with a clubhouse run out of a small shop. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).

How much does it cost to maintain a golf course?

Hawaii is, on average, the most expensive state in which to maintain a course, at $1.44 million a year. That’s followed by tracks in the southwestern U.S., where the average yearly maintenance cost is $1.05 million. Because they have such a short season, courses in the north central states come in, on average, at a bargain $556,000.

How many holes are on a golf course?

Most courses are 9 or 18 holes, and they may have other amenities, such as clubhouses and pro shops. Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services .

What is the operating cost of 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.

Is there money in 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.

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

If a normal golf course has around 160 acres, then a 9-hole golf course most likely has around 80-100 acres.

How much does the PGA pay to use a golf course?

Money for hosting an event ranges widely. If you're talking about a U.S. Open, the amount the USGA pays in facility fees is substantial — north of $2 million when it “rents” a club. But clubs also share in the event's revenue and receive additional funds to prepare and restore its course.

How many acres do you need for a golf course?

“This means an 18-hole course of all short par 3s could be built on as little as 30 acres, while an intermediate length or executive course of 18 holes of par 3s and 4s would require 75-100 acres, and a full size par 72 course would need 120-200 acres.

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.

How much water do golf courses use?

In California, an average 18-hole golf course sprawls over 110 to 115 acres and conservatively uses almost 90 million gallons of water per year, enough to fill 136 Olympic-size swimming pools, said Mike Huck, a water management consultant who works with golf courses statewide.

What is the world's largest golf course?

From the tips, Erin Hills -- the site of this year's U.S. Open -- spans over 7,800 yards.

Why do golf courses have bunkers?

Sand bunkers provide a psychological landmark. They accentuate the hole and provide targets for directing the golfer to a defined landing area whether it is the fairway or green. Sand bunkers provide safety buffers for adjacent fairways, tees or greens, both physically and visually.

How much do golf courses make per year?

Golf Course Owners make between $30,000 to several hundred thousand dollars per year. However, golf course owners sometimes will lose money if the course has a bad year. Overall, the golf course industry is very volatile, and there is no guarantee that money will be made.

Who is the richest caddy in golf?

1. Jimmy Johnson. What is this? Jimmy Johnson is currently caddying for Justin Thomas, but he has a successful history on tour.

How much does it cost to play golf at Augusta?

There are roughly 300 members of Augusta National, and being invited by one of them is the quickest way to get a round in at the famous course. Members are allowed to bring a guest on the course for a relatively small fee of $40.

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 many golf courses broke even in 2015?

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 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.

How can a golf course business increase its revenue?

Golf course businesses can add additional revenue streams and increase profits by hiring golf pros who offer lessons, putting in a pro shop that sells equipment, installing a driving range adjacent to the course, or having a restaurant on site.

What is the primary product of a golf course?

A golf course business’ primary product or service is course fees, which golfers pay to play the course. These fees account for a significant portion of a business’ revenue, but they are far from the only source of revenue. Some other things golf courses sell are: golf clubs and other equipment. lessons.

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.

Is it cheaper to buy an existing golf course?

Purchasing an existing business is sometimes cheaper, and it’s often perceived as less risky because the business already has a history. The Golf Course Market maintains lists of courses that are currently for sale and ones that will soon go to auction.

Who is qualified to run a golf course?

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 to have a broad business background, because golf courses are multi-faceted businesses.

How much did Doyle pay for the golf course in Florida?

The $3.8 million Doyle paid for the course, in Florida’s third-biggest market, is slightly more than the average purchase price ($3.1 million) for the 114 golf course sales tracked by Leisure Investment Properties Group last year.

What is the National Golf Foundation's GolfMAP system?

The National Golf Foundation’s GolfMAP system, for example, provides a detailed look at demand-related variables such as participation rates, golfing households, rounds played, interest among non-golfers, and household income in a particular region.

Where did Dan Doyle Jr. play golf?

E very day for almost 20 years, Dan Doyle Jr. passed the same public golf course near Tampa, Fla., while driving his kids to school or heading to the office. The town-owned Belleview Biltmore Golf Club in Bellaire was the venue at which Doyle learned to play the game as a youngster and he’d frequently feel pangs of disappointment ...

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.

How Much Land Does It Take To Build A Golf Course?

How much to build a golf course depends significantly on the cost of the land. An average 18-hole golf course requires approximately 140 and 180 acres, while a 9-hole course requires 70 and 100 acres. A 9-hole par-3 course can be built on as little as 65 acres, while an 18-hole pitch and putt require around 25 to 30 acres.

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Golf Course?

In 2001, Michigan State University found that the median cost to build a golf course was $14 million. But it varied between $7 and $25 million. It is difficult to provide an exact cost to the question, how much is it to build a golf course since there are many options and expenses.

FAQs

Owning a golf course can be quite profitable and rewarding if the construction costs can be kept low without sacrificing quality.

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 Food and Bev operation: 150,000 Golf related expense (flags, event signs, handicapping, pos software, staff, range balls, etc): 100,000 Maintenance: 200,000 Marketing: 75,000 Misc repairs/expenses: 100,000 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)?

What is the most important thing in a golf course?

The greens. They are the most essential element of any course, but because of labor and equipment they are also the most expensive things to maintain — even if some of our demands are a costly waste. Firm and fast is the golf standard for greens.

Who is the vice president of Billy Casper Golf?

That’s a question owners ask all the time,” says a weary Bryan Bielecki, vice president of agronomy at Billy Casper Golf, which manages nearly 150 golf courses in the U.S. “You can’t spend less and expect the same exact product. You have to sacrifice something.”.