how much to open a mini golf course

Full Answer

How much does a miniature golf course cost?

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.

How to start a miniature golf course?

• Attend trade shows and join professional associations in order to market your mini golf course
• Ensure that your marketing executives are able to meet with groups in a bid to market your mini golf course
• Put up billboards in strategic locations in order to draw attention to your mini golf business

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How much does mini golf cost?

The cost for this will range from $1,000 to $2,000 (per 18 holes), but could be more if detailed engineering is required by your municipality. Mini golf course construction cost. On average, it costs $5 to play 18 holes of miniature golf, which makes it one of the cheapest forms of entertainment around.

Are mini golf courses profitable?

With the right design and construction, and a solid business plan, a mini golf course can be a very lucrative investment. Many courses pay for themselves within 1-3 years. Mini golf profits are widely recognised as being more lucrative than other similar attractions, such as go-cart racing, paintball games, and rock climbing. Why?

Is Putt Putt a good investment?

While it's great to be passionate about a new business idea, businesses can't survive on passion alone. As is well documented, most new businesses fail within the first few years. However, a mini golf course can be a very safe and lucrative business investment.

How much land do you need for pitch and putt?

And the equipment required to play is only two clubs—a lofted iron and a putter. And the space required for an 18-hole pitch-and-putt course averages five or six acres, with each hole generally under 80 yards and some as short as 25 yards.

How do you make a putt putt course?

Miniature Golf (Putt Putt) CourseStep 1: Materials. Purchase or scrounge the material. ... Step 2: Build the Bases. Build 4 by 8 rectangles with pressure treated 2x4s. ... Step 3: Create Bases for the Courses. ... Step 4: Mount Rectangular Bases Onto the 4x4 Foundation. ... Step 5: Put on the Carpet. ... Step 6: Finishing Touches. ... 4 Comments.

What is the area of a mini golf course?

between 15,000 and 22,000 square feetThe recommendation for an 18-hole miniature golf course is between 15,000 and 22,000 square feet for the playing surface. However, a site as small as 9,000 square feet can be accommodated. The clubhouse and parking areas are additional to the playing surface.

Are golf courses profitable?

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 is a small 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.

How do I start a crazy golf business?

Create a business plan. This should be the first step to take before doing anything else. ... Register your business. ... Tax registration. ... Create a business account. ... Keep records. ... Get all the necessary licences and permits. ... Insurance. ... Create a brand identity.More items...•

How do you make a mini golf hole?

0:044:28How to Build a Miniature Golf Course | This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn it's a really cool system it's a series of panels you can set up any way you want to build yourMoreIn it's a really cool system it's a series of panels you can set up any way you want to build your own golf course inside the house we're covering it with green felt to make it look like grass.

How can I make my mini golf more interesting?

Creative Ways to Enjoy Mini GolfHole 2: Introduce some competition by dividing your group into teams of two. ... Hole 6: Raise the challenge bar. ... Hole 7: Turn around, face backward and putt the ball through your legs.Hole 8: Try sideways soccer. ... Hole 9: Hold the club like a pool cue and guide it in.More items...•

What are fails in mini golf?

fails, a number. reach, which is in inches. played golf, a number of years. Rob's opinion, a phrase or sentence attributed to co-host Rob Riggle.

What is the average size of a mini golf hole?

30-45 feetTransition spaces are lawns and a wooden bridge at one place. The average length of each hole is 30-45 feet and average width is 2.5-3 feet.

What is the difference between crazy golf and mini golf?

In crazy golf, these are found on the playing surface, and players have to putt their ball through or over them. In adventure golf, the features are often next to the holes, with players instead having to negotiate humps, bumps and big slopes. Minigolf is the umbrella term for the sport as a whole.

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

At 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 much land is required for a championship golf course?

Golf courses require anywhere from 100 to 200 acres of land for an 18 hole championship course. The size of 18-hole golf courses can vary, sometimes drastically, but most courses are between 5,000 and 7,000 yards.

How much does it cost to maintain a mini golf course?

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 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.

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 ...

What are some examples of features and costs to take into account when building a course?

Some examples of features and costs to take into account when building a course include: Water systems like streams, ponds, pumps, and drainage ditches. Water hazards are a popular addition to mini-golf courses. Elevation changes. A flat course is a boring course, some dips and dives add to the experience.

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 mini golf recession proof?

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

Step 1: Write your Business Plan

After coming up with the idea, the next step in starting your mini golf course should be to write a business plan. The business plan will make you focus on some important aspects of the business, such as who your customers are, how you plan to reach them, projecting sales and expenses, your value proposition to use for marketing, and more.

Step 2: Name the Business

Finding the perfect mini golf course name can be challenging. Not only does the name have to reflect what you do and be appealing to customers, but it also has to be available to use. You can check your state’s website to see if the name is available and register your name.

Step 3: Form a Legal Entity

A legal entity refers to how a business is legally organized to operate. There are four primary business entities to choose from, which include a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and Limited Liability Company (LLC). Each type of entity has its own pros and cons, such as liability exposure, costs, and administrative requirements.

Step 4: Select your Location

You need a location that is convenient and has high traffic for visibility. Additionally, locating a course close to other family attractions or fun centers such as batting cage, go kart track, video arcade, etc., can help generate more income.

Step 5: Apply for Business Licenses and Permits

Some cities require the licensing of places of amusement, which a mini golf course falls under.

Step 6: Find Financing

Coming up with a good business idea and having the skills to run it are one thing but getting the funding to start a mini golf course is another. In order to get a loan, the borrower (s) will need to have good credit and be able to invest 15-25% of their money towards the total start-up costs.

Step 7: Open a Business Bank Account

Keeping your business and personal finances in separate business bank and credit card accounts makes it easier to track the income and expenses of the business.

What Our Owners Say?

"The people at Harris were efficient, effective and flexible. I was on site every day during construction and the guys were always asking me for my input. They would take what I suggested and make it happen. They were on time and on budget, which was an absolute delight! Best of all, I’ve made a ton of money in the miniature golf business."

The Harris Guarantee

At Harris, we always provide our clients with the full extent of our talents. We believe in the little things that will make all the difference between a job well done and a job remarkably done. The courses we build not only meet, but surpass customers’ expectations. We complete our projects on budget and on time.

Jump-Start Your Existing Business

Turn your restaurant, driving range, amusement park, ice cream stand, or other businesses into a money generating machine with a miniature golf course by Harris. Countless of our clients announced that generated earnings by their new miniature golf courses far exceed any other sales.

More Is Better: The Case for 36 Holes

With two 18-hole mini golf courses, it is the key to boost returning business and profitability for your facility. Not only do two golf courses produce more challenges and choices for golf lovers, they provide the space to welcome bigger crowds on weekends and summer evenings.

Why are there two 18 hole golf courses?

Having two 18-hole courses can be key to promoting repeat business and profitability for your facility. Two courses not only create more choices and challenges for players, they provide the capacity necessary to accommodate large crowds on summer evenings and weekends.

Can you build a miniature golf course?

Here are some things to consider: Building a miniature golf course is part construction project and part art form. Just because a contractor can pour concrete doesn’t mean he can build a miniature golf course.

Is miniature golf a seasonal business?

In many areas, miniature golf is a seasonal business. Many contractors won’t have construction crews available during the peak spring and early summer construction seasons. Every day waiting for a construction crew is another day you aren’t making money.

Is mini golf a regulation golf course?

Mini golf courses that are fun, challenging and interesting keep customers coming back and attract more customers through word of mouth. While mini golf is not regulation golf in miniature, Harris courses incorporate undulating and banked greens, water, sand traps, rough turf and other features that make regulation golf fun and challenging.

What to consider before building a mini golf course?

Another important factor to consider before building a mini golf course business is how much you can charge for tickets. This can determine how many people you attract, what kind of people, as well as how quickly you recoup your costs and make a profit.

What is the motto of a mini golf course?

The old real estate motto, ‘Location, location, location!’ also applies to building a mini golf course business. Choosing the right location can be a huge factor in determining your success.

Is it hard to build a mini golf course?

Building a mini golf course business is not as difficult as you might think. To start with, contracting a turnkey company like Mini Golf Creations to design, build and deliver a ‘ready-to-play’ course can make life a whole lot easier. However, before embarking on any new business venture, it’s very important to do your research to ensure your ...

Do you need a business to run a mini golf course?

Know the business. You don’t need any special qualifications to run a mini golf course business. In fact, once the course is built, the business will practically run itself with limited staffing and maintenance. It can also generate strong ongoing returns. However, it’s a good idea to know the ins and outs of running a mini golf business ...

How long have mini golf courses been around?

Mini golf courses have been in existence for about a hundred years and it is an American form of entertainment that has remained viable ever since. Mini golf courses are regarded as one of the few American cultural icons left and can be found in cities, suburbs, and even rural towns across the country.

How do I start a mini golf business?

When looking to start your mini golf business, you should be aware of the various competitions that you are likely to face and be prepared for it. One of the ways by which you can compete is via marketing. Marketing is the ability to determine what it is your target market wants and then create strategies that will ensure that these needs are met.

What is the service delivery process for mini golf?

The service delivery process involved in a mini golf business includes talking to the customers that come to the mini golf, taking their payment, giving them the necessary equipment that they require, and also explaining regulations that are specific to the course.

Why is it important to choose a location for a mini golf course?

The location you intend to choose for your mini golf course is very important as this could make the difference between the growth and failure of the business. This is why it is advised that you conduct a thorough research regarding the business before starting it so that you do not end up running a business that will drain your resources.

Why is it important to have a mini golf course?

Having strategies in place that will boost publicity for your mini golf course is very important, this is because not only will you be creating awareness for your business but you will also be able to convert most of the awareness to revenue for your business.

Why is location important in mini golf?

In running a mini golf business, location is very important as it can help keep you in competition. This means that customers do not want to drive or travel too far before they are able to enjoy the social activity that a mini golf provides especially with the many alternative entertainment options available.

What is mini golf?

The mini golf business is one that is in the entertainment industry and can be run by just anyone who has the resources and business acumen. If you however choose to take professional courses in management, marketing or accounting to boost your business experience, then you can do so. 12.

Does Castle Golf provide carpet?

Castle Golf will provide the suppliers and, whenever possible help you get the best prices for carpet and balls, putters, etc. Another way to look at it is that Castle Golf will come along side you and help you with getting your course built when budgets are tight.

Can you use floodlights in Castle Golf?

But again, it depends upon how much you can contribute and what the hard costs will be. You may choose to use an overhead lighting program with floodlights, a less costly approach that the usual Castle Golf standard approach. We will provide the appropriate electrical plans for your use.