how you know if the golf course sell business or land

by Ms. Maude Trantow 4 min read

Many daily fee golf courses are family run, “cash businesses”. As such, it is not uncommon for financial records to be less than accurate. If all the revenues can’t be accounted for, as the seller you won’t be credited for them when you sell the property.

Full Answer

How to conduct business on the golf course?

The idea behind conducting business on the golf course is to make friends first and then do your business. As you are playing, keep in mind that you will want to bring your “A” game as much as is humanly possible.

How do you sell a golf course to a developer?

In some areas, you have to offer to sell it to the neighborhood association first, before you sell it to developers. Adding greenbelt, open space or a walking path for those homeowners, in place of the golf course, is one thing that can be done to help mitigate their anger.

What happens when a golf course goes up for sale?

Great golf courses and prestigious golf membership clubs like Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, Los Angeles Country Club, and many others are still in high demand. If any of these courses went up for sale, major golf management companies (Troon, Trump, ClubCorp) and investments funds would be lined up to get a piece of these very profitable enterprises.

Where can I find resources about owning a golf course?

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America has educational resources on environmental issues and maintaining courses. There are also many books on owning and running golf courses, like The Complete Guide to Course Management and The Business of Golf.

What business category is a golf course?

Golf courses and country clubs are a significant component of subsector 713, Amusement, Gambling and Recreation Industries.

Are business deals made on the golf course?

Almost all the executives surveyed (93 percent) said playing golf with a business associate was a good way to establish a closer relationship. More than a third said some of their biggest deals were made on a golf course.

How do you value a golf course business?

As with most property types, golf courses can be valued via the income approach, sales approach, or cost approach. Each method has its limitations. Given the specialized nature of golf course properties, the application of the comparable sales approach is preferred.

How do golf businesses make money?

How To Make Money Playing Golf (Top 5 Ways)Get a Job as a Golf Pro. ... Play in Golf Tournaments. ... Place Friendly Bets with Your Friends. ... Become a Mystery Shopper. ... Get Sponsorships/Become an Influencer.

Why do businessmen play golf?

According to Forbes article Golfers Make Better Business Executives, 90% of Fortune 500 Company CEOs play golf, and 80% of all executives say, “Golf has the power to establish new relationships.” Not only do you acquire a professional relationship, you also make a friend that can last a lifetime.

Why do CEOs play golf?

A whopping 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs play golf, and 80% of executives say playing golf enables them to establish new business relationships. Although only 20% of all golfers are female, 50% of executive women who play golf say being able to talk about golf allows them to be more successful.

Do golf courses appreciate in value?

A study done by the National Recreation and Parks Association found that properties that view a golf course, even if they are not a part of that golf community, have 15-30% higher property values.

Are golf stores profitable?

Interestingly, the golf industry is well below the common keystone pricing markup of 50%. 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 money can you make playing golf?

According to pgatour.com, the average PGA Tour player earned just under $1.5 million in 2021. That number spans from that year's money leader, Jon Rahm, who earned a cool $7,705,933 million, to the PGA Tour's 250th place earner, Parker McLachlin, who earned $6,090.

Can you win money in golf tournaments?

USGA Rule 3-2 An amateur winning a golf tournament could accept a prize -- if the value is $750 or less. USGA Rule 3-2, "Prize Money," allows amateurs to compete in events and win prizes such as vouchers for free golf equipment.

1. Plan an Exit Strategy

One of the first steps to selling a golf course is deciding how you will exit the business.

2. Prepare Your Paperwork

Once you’ve planned how you will exit your golf course business, you should begin preparing your paperwork and organizing important documents. A majority of serious buyers will want to review everything from tax statements and inventory to contracts and more.

3. Acquire a Professional Valuation

Though you may have an estimated price in mind, the most reliable way to obtain an accurate valuation is through a business broker. It’s very common for an owner’s emotional attachment to cloud judgment when determining a realistic price.

4. Prepare Your Golf Course

Before placing your golf course on the market, make sure everything is in order and ready for potential buyers. Take your time to seek out any potential issues with your golf course and develop an actionable plan to address any flaws. Be sure to assess your:

5. Contact a Business Broker and List Your Golf Course for Sale

After completing all the preparation steps, it’s finally time to list your golf club for sale. If you’re interested in selling your golf course independently, consider utilizing well-known websites and investing in marketing efforts to help advertise your business.

John Davies

After obtaining his MBA, John began his career at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the international accounting and consulting firm, and subsequently joined Progressive Corporation, a large U.S. based insurance company. John was a Division President at Progressive and subsequently became the CEO of a New York based private equity investment company.

Buying

A successfully-run golf development can be extremely profitable – and that’s why golf courses don’t stay on the market for very long.

Selling

Thinking of selling your golf course? The GBI is ideally placed to help you maximise the price you can achieve.

Why are golf course appraisals so difficult to trust?

Golf course appraisals are difficult to trust because the three standard methods of appraisal – replacement cost, comparable sales, income approach – cannot apply at a time when golf courses in recent years, for instance, have been trading well below replacement cost.

How much did golf courses earn in 1995?

In 1995 a golf course with annual earnings of $500,000 may have traded for a multiple of 6 to 12 times EBITDA. The predators – mostly the experienced golf companies – aimed for the six multiple.

How far apart were the two golf courses in the same county?

The assessor was puzzled because the two golf courses appeared so much alike and located less than eight miles apart in the same county. The two golf course sales transactions occurred only a few months apart. Both were 18-hole residential development type golf courses, with similar middle-class neighborhoods.

When were golf courses allowed?

In my experience, golf courses created after the early 1970s were probably permitted as permanent green space, which meant all other land rights were relinquished as the permitting condition. It means the land can only be a golf course or an open field.

Was golf a business or asset?

The golf course as a business was worthless in the eyes of the banker. The land as an asset, which still retained most of its original property rights was actually attractive as a financeable collateral asset. We know the banks were rather liberal in the 90’s.

Is a golf course loan a real estate loan?

Based on what I was told by an executive with a major bank, a golf course loan was regarded as a business loan and not a real estate property loan – even though it was secured by the real estate asset. Therefore, the loan was primarily based on the ability of the business to repay the loan.

Can golf courses be financed?

In 2017 the rules have changed. Many golf courses are not showing profits and cannot be financed. Sellers are telling buyers that the earnings will return, but smarter buyers are saying they won’t pay now for tomorrow's profits. With the banks gone, the only golf course finance source may be the seller.

What would happen if golf courses went up for sale?

If any of these courses went up for sale, major golf management companies (Troon, Trump, ClubCorp) and investments funds would be lined up to get a piece of these very profitable enterprises. However, most golf courses that go up for sale aren’t in great locations and may not even be profitable at all.

Is golf in decline?

Many Golf Courses are Struggling. The golf industry has been in decline for over 10 years (pre-Covid). The number of rounds being played is going down, the number of courses open in the U.S. has decreased, and the average age of golfers has gone up.

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.

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.

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.

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