how much property do you need to build a golf course on your property

by Gregg Goldner 5 min read

“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.

Full Answer

How much land do you need 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 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 many acres is a 9 hole golf course?

15-30 acres – 6 or 9 Hole Par 3 Executive Golf Course with Driving Range. 30 – 50 acres – A standard 9 Hole Golf Course with Driving Range. 50 – 75 acres – An international standard 9 Hole Championship Golf Course and Driving Range.

Why are golf courses so expensive to build?

Building a golf course requires a sizable piece of land that slopes as golfers do not want to play on a level course. If the land is too flat, you will have to transport soil in to create slopes, thus dramatically increasing the cost of building a golf course.

How many acres does a typical golf course cover?

150 acresAt the individual level, an average 18-hole golf course covers 150 acres, approximately 100 (67 percent) of which is maintained turfgrass. This area is predominantly comprised of rough (51 acres) and fairways (30 acres).

How many acres do you need for a 7000 yard golf course?

The average length of a 18 hole golf course is 5,000 – 7,000 yards. The area is spread over 110 – 190 acres.

How many acres is a fairway on a golf course?

About 29 percent of a golf course is dedicated to the fairway. The Golf Course Superintendent Association of America estimates that 31.9 acres is needed for fairways.

How much money does it take to build 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.

What goes into building a golf course?

These are just some of the many steps that go into building a golf course....Steps in the Golf Course Building ProcessGrading. ... Drainage. ... Rough and Finish Shaping. ... Green Construction. ... Tee Construction. ... Bunker Construction. ... Grassing and Seed Prep.More items...

How much water do golf courses use?

90 million gallonsIn 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.

How many square feet is a golf course?

Teeing area per hole averages 7,500 sq. ft. Greens average 6,500 square feet. Fairways account for 30-acres….

What is the average size of a golf green?

This is from the GCSAA Tournament Fact Sheet: “Golf course management facts: Average tour green size (sq. ft.): The average green size on the professional tours is approximately 6,000 square feet, ranging from 3,500 sq. ft at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif. to 9,000 sq. ft.

What is the average length of a golf course?

around 7,200-7,300 yardsOn the PGA Tour, the average golf course length these days is around 7,200-7,300 yards. On the LPGA Tour, average golf course length is around 6,200 to 6,600 yards. On the Champions Tour for over-50 pros, average golf course length is around 6,500 to 6,800 yards.

Why are golf courses so expensive?

Why is golf so expensive? Golf is costly due to the high cost of quality golf clubs, accessories, course fees, memberships, and the amount of golf that is played. Golf clubs are made from quality materials meant to last a lifetime, and courses often require membership, the cost of which reflects the club's exclusivity.

What is the most expensive golf course ever built?

Drumpf National, Los Angeles The total spend for this club is a staggering $264 million which makes it the most expensive golf course ever built.

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.

What are the factors that determine the cost of a golf course?

Golf course design fees are dependent on a variety of factors, such as the type and scale of the project, its technical complexity, the planning approval process, the working practices of the individual golf course architect and the services and conditions imposed by clients.

How are golf course fees calculated?

Fees are usually calculated in one of three ways: As a percentage of the construction costs. A fixed price. A time rate. To understand more about the amount you will need to invest in engaging a golf course architect, read our advice on golf course design fees. Download:

What are the physical elements of a golf course?

Technical – is the site you are considering suitable for a golf course? A golf course architect will examine the physical elements of the site, such as land area, topography, soils, geology, vegetation, drainage and water availability.

Who develops a master plan for golf course?

The masterplan should be developed by a project team, which is usually led by the golf course architect and typically includes some or all of these specialisms: Your golf course architect will provide a detailed design package to reflect local planning submission requirements and ease the planning process. Land Planner.

What is a golf course architect?

Your golf course architect will provide a detailed design package to reflect local planning submission requirements and make the planning process easier. Your golf course architect will also assist with the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment should it be required.

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 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.

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.

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.

How much does it cost to install a nine hole golf course?

Equipment and installation of a nine hole course using voluntary labor from a local club can cost less than $3,000, and may require little or no maintenance. Disc golf courses can also be installed on existing groomed parks ...

How many holes are there in a disc golf course?

An existing city, county, or state park can install a disc golf course with as few as six holes, or up to nine, or eighteen, or more holes, using the existing park grounds. The distance from the tees to the holes can range anywhere from 150 feet to 700 feet or more, depending on the natural flow of the terrain.

Is disc golf expensive?

Maintaining a competition level ball golf course is very expensive . Installing a disc golf course on existing land adds little or no additional maintenance costs. A disc golf course can be fit onto a smaller piece of property, and the property itself can either be groomed, or left completely natural or “wild”.

Can disc golf courses be installed on existing parks?

Disc golf courses can also be installed on existing groomed parks that are also available to public use. While we love disc golf, there are certain parks and areas where for safety reasons, disc golf courses simply should not be.

How much space does an indoor golf course use?

An average area for an indoor course will use 6,500 sq. ft. but can go as small as 2,500 sq. ft. or as big as 10,000 sq. ft. Usually when building indoors, you will usually use a smaller area than an outdoor mini golf course. question_answer.

How big is an outdoor mini golf course?

The outdoor footprint is usually larger than an indoor course. The average area for an outdoor mini golf course is 22,000 sq. ft. Miniature golf courses can be built in unique spaces and we can use as little area as 13,000 sq. ft. and have gone up to as large as 30,000 sq. ft. question_answer.

Why is miniature golf so popular?

The reason why miniature golf is usually one of the highest grossing attractions at a family entertainment center is that anyone can play. There are no restrictions as to who can play. Our courses are ADA compliant so someone in a wheel chair can play.

How often do mini golf courses get new customers?

A lot of standalone miniature golf courses are in tourist markets that get new customers every day or every week. Some local trade markets will start out with mini golf but have plans to add to the location in the coming years.

What is the daily maintenance of a golf course?

The daily maintenance is just walking the course on occasions and picking up any debris you may find. Depending on whether you are indoors or outdoors, you may have a daily watering of plants and shrubs. A lot of people will install a drip watering system, and have it timed to go on as needed.

Do you need a drip system for a pond?

A lot of people will install a drip watering system, and have it timed to go on as needed. Depending on if you are a seasonal operation or year-round operation you will want to clean the ponds and streams as needed. Outdoor locations may need it more frequently.

Can mini golf courses be built?

We suggest you check with your local governing body to find out about approvals and permits. Miniature golf courses are not built as often as office buildings or other commercial developments, so your local governing body does not deal with them on a regular basis.

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