what you should know when owning a golf course

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

• State & Local Business Licensing Requirements. Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a golf course...
• Release of Liability. To avoid liability and potential lawsuits, golf courses should have their clients sign a release...
• Certificate of Occupancy. A golf course is generally operated on a large acreage...

Full Answer

What makes a good golf course?

The interactions that people have with each other, your clubhouse, and your staff will create a fun and relaxed atmosphere and build a culture around your golf course. For smaller operations that will still bring in a decent amount of golfers, you may want to look at operating a snack bar with quick and less expensive food and beverage items.

Is owning a home on a golf course a good idea?

One of the benefits of owning a home on a golf course is that many people believe that owning a home located on a golf course is prestigious. One of the top 100 private country clubs in the country is Oak Hill Country Club which is located in Pittsford NY, a bedroom community of Rochester.

How do I know when to use my golf clubs?

In broadest terms, your clubs themselves will help tell you when it's best to use them. Each club is designed for a particular job-namely, to send the ball a particular distance at a particular trajectory.

Should you buy an existing golf course?

Buying an existing golf course usually means that buildings will already be in place on the property. However, you can always build a new clubhouse or expand any current buildings if there’s a large enough market to drive enough revenue. In this case, you may want to run a full-fledged restaurant and bar.

How profitable is 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 much money does the average golf course make?

According to the National Golf Foundation's 2010 Operating & Financial Performance Profiles of 18-hole golf facilities in the U.S., private 18-hole golf clubs had average total revenue of $3,277,000 in 2009, but with total expenses of $3,204,500.

Do golf courses actually 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.

Is it hard to maintain a golf course?

Maintaining an average 18-hole golf course – which is larger than 70 football fields – takes work and lots of it. The average 18-hole course may also have dozens of bunkers, a few miles of cart paths and many other course features. As you can imagine, it takes a lot of work to maintain all the different components.

What does it take to run 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.

How many acres does it take to build 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.

How long does it take to build a golf course?

The actual construction time for a golf course from ground -breaking to opening can be from one to two years, depending on the weather and amount of equipment used. But today it often takes an additional one to two years to obtain all of the permits and required approvals before construction can begin.

How can I make my golf course more profitable?

Strategies to Boost Revenue at Your Course This SeasonSell packages.Custom memberships.A well-designed loyalty rewards program.Branded merchandise.Sponsorships.Add an eCommerce page to your website.Open up an online booking channel.Upselling and cross-selling.More items...

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.

How often do you mow a putting green?

Greens 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.

How do you take care of a golf course?

Tips for Maintaining Your Golf CoursePrioritize Sustainability. It takes a lot of water, electricity and fertilizer to maintain all that vibrant green turf. ... Be Specific with Maintenance. ... Eliminate Ball Marks. ... Repair Divots. ... Rake Sand Bunkers. ... Rough It Up. ... Course Design. ... Lightning Safety.More items...

How do they keep golf courses green?

Golf greens need plenty of sunflight and good airflow. When constructing the green, a bulldozer creates a 12-inch to 16-inch (30 to 40 cm) deep hole the size of the green. In the most advanced systems, this hole is completely lined with plastic, and then gravel, drainage pipes and sand are added.

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...

What to expect when buying a golf course?

When you buy a golf course, there’s a good chance that you’ll acquire a lot of the customers that the previous management had gained. That being said, you’ll want to bring improvements to the operation that will impress both new visitors and seasoned guests. Once you give them an amazing first experience, you’ll need to keep people engaged with your company to keep them coming back over and over again.

Why do golf courses need to be close to current golfers?

A golf course needs to be close to as many current and prospective golfers as possible so it can take its share of the largest possible market, without being in an area that is too competitive to stand a chance.

What happens if a golf course is up for sale?

If a golf course is up for sale, chances are that it wasn’t making a lot of profit. This doesn’t mean that you can’t breathe new life into the operation, however. With clever marketing, you can retain any previous customers while targeting new segments of golfers and growing your sales. Data analytics are crucial as they’ll keep you on top of what’s happening and give you insights into customer behaviour.

Why are lessons important in golf?

Lessons are a great way to generate some extra revenue while bringing in new golfers and growing the game. The golf professionals you hire need to not only have an in-depth understanding of the sport but also have amazing teaching skills.

How many golf courses have closed since 2011?

This is a relatively large market that you can capitalize on by buying a golf course. That being said, 737 golf facilities have closed since 2011, so success is not a given. Blindly running into ownership of a golf course can often be very risky, so you need to carefully select where you invest your money and how you operate your course.

What happens if you delay tee times?

If the participants’ tee times are delayed, food isn’t ready, and the golfers notice a lack of organization, they won’t have a great attitude towards your course. Tournaments and events need to be used as a way to make people love your facility, not just a way to make money on some weekends.

What do you need to sell in a pro shop?

When it comes to your pro shop, you need to at least sell the essentials like balls, gloves, and tees. You can charge a high price for these products because of how convenient your location is to golfers who lost, forgot, or ran out of them. Golf cart and club rentals are also a staple revenue channel for golf courses.

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.

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 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.

Why is it important to learn golf?

You must train yourself and your body to do things that do not come naturally, and without someone there to correct mistakes and give guidance , you will develop bad habits.

How to keep track of a golf score?

You keep track of score by counting strokes ; a miss can still count as a stroke. Scoring: Ace – a hole in one. Eagle – 2 strokes under par. Birdie – 1 stroke under par (sometimes called a double eagle) Par – the standard number of strokes it should take to get the golf ball from the tee to the hole.

What is the name of the peg you put your golf ball on?

Golf Tee – the wooden peg you place your golf ball on at the start of the hole. The area in which you first play the ball at the start of the hole (A.K.A. the tee box) is also known as the golf tee. The rough – the wild area on either side of the fairway Often filled with trees and long grass.

What did the Scots prefer to play?

The Scots preferred a round of golf over sword fighting, it seems. It is important that every Beginner’s Guide to Golf dispel the legendary myth right away: golf does not stand for “Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden”. Golf was the ancient word for “club,” so the game was essentially just called “club.”. The term “golf club” literally means “club ...

What is a bunker in golf?

Bunker – a sand filled ditch. Usually surrounds the green. Hazard – streams, ponds, bunkers, trees. Anything that comes between you and successfully getting the golf ball in the hole. Stroke – the swing made with intent to hit the ball.

What does "golf club" mean?

The term “golf club” literally means “club club.”. For local golf enthusiasts, we have also covered the history of golf in South Florida that goes a little more in depth about how Florida became the golf retreat we know today.

Where did golf start?

We don’t want you yawning, so we’ll keep it short. Golf can be traced back millennia to China, but the modern, 18-hole version started in Scotland in the 1400’s.

Who taught kids how to play golf?

The Hall of Fame golfer-turned-commentator Johnny Miller once described teaching his kids how to play golf as starting out by letting them whack balls into a pond because it was fun to see the splash. Notably, there was no talk about how to hold a club, how to swing it, or anything else technical.

What time is a good time to check tee time?

Often, late afternoons are great options. There are a number of tee-time aggregators (Supreme Golf, GolfNow or TeeOff.com), which is good for searching for a tee time at multiple courses at the same time.

How long has Golf Digest been around?

There’s a reason Golf Digest has been around for 70 years, and it’s because there’s no shortage of topics to cover when it comes to the greatest game there is. But best to keep it simple with some basics here first. When you’re ready for more, we’re here.

Is there a rule for golf?

It’s true, golf has plenty of rules, but you should take solace knowing even many experienced players don’t know all of them. If you’re venturing out onto the course for the first time, really the most important thing is to be respectful of the people you’re playing with and the golf course itself.

Is there a better time to learn golf?

There has never been a better time to learn golf, and if you’ve come this far, it’s probably because you’ve figured that out on your own. By its nature, golf is uniquely suited for a social-distancing world —it’s a game played over a vast outdoor space, a worthwhile source of exercise, a diversion for the mind.

Do you need golf shoes right away?

Our purpose here is to give you the basics—not only how to hit a golf ball, but what you need to hit the ball with, and anything else necessary to start your golf journey on the right foot (speaking of which, you don’t need golf shoes right away). There’s a reason Golf Digest has been around for 70 years, and it’s because there’s no shortage ...

How to grip a golf club properly?

DO: Learn how to grip the club properly.#N#DON’T: Try to keep your head “down and still” through impact. Let it follow through with the rest of your body .#N#DO: Bend from your hip s.#N#DON’T: Bend from your knees.#N#DO: Get your lead shoulder under your chin on the backswing and finish with your face , chest and hips and facing the target.#N#DON’T: Stay flat-footed through impact.#N#DO: Concentrate on the short game by chipping and putting before focusing on long irons (3-iron, 4-iron, etc.) and your hybrids, fairway woods and driver.

Who said golf is the greatest game ever invented?

In the immortal words of Arnold Palmer: “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening—and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.”.

Do you take range balls to the golf course?

Always be ready to hit your shot when it’s your turn. DON’T: Take range balls to the golf course. Many are limited-flight models, so it’s just not worth it. DO: Take the time to learn basic rules and etiquette.

Is golf the greatest game in the world?

Getty Images. Golf is the greatest game in the world—just ask anyone who plays! But getting started as a beginner can be a daunting—and often intimidating—prospect. To help you (or someone you know) take the plunge, here’s a definitive list of dos and don’ts for the aspiring player.

What to know before buying a home on a golf course?

Before buying a home on a golf course, buyers need to realize that this they may potentially see this type of behavior. If a buyer is planning on having summer picnics with their family in their backyard, they should expect to see similar types of behavior at one point or another when buying a home on a golf course.

Why buy a home on a golf course?

Another benefit of buying a home on a golf course is that the majority of the surroundings will be well manicured and maintained. Since most golf courses pride themselves on the condition of their grounds, the chances of having well manicured surroundings is higher.

Is a golf course beautiful?

In addition to the increased probability of well manicured surroundings, many golf courses are simply beautiful. Whether it’s a golf course with a pond and fountain or mature, tree-lined fairways, the surroundings of a golf course homes can be breathtaking.

Do golf carts make noise?

If the motorized golf carts are gas powered, a buyer will also have to deal with the noise from them. If the golf carts are not gas powered, there may not be noise to deal with but the potential of people driving a golf cart into a homes backyard exists.

Is a golf course a home association?

Another CON of buying a home on a golf course is that many golf course homes are a part of a homeowners association. This means that a buyer will be subject to specific rules and also potentially additional monthly, quarterly, or annual fees.

Is a golf course a HOA?

Many Golf Course Homes Are Part Of A Homeowners Association (HOA) Golf Course Homes Are Often Run By A Homeowners Association. Buying a home that’s a part of a homeowners association, also known as an HOA, is not for everyone either.

Is it possible to buy a home on a golf course?

Buying a home on a golf course is not for everyone. As you can see, there are certainly some advantages of living on a golf course, however, there are certainly a fair share of drawbacks. Below are some of the most common CONs of buying a home on a golf course.

How far can a golf cart go?

These are meant for short, leisure distances, so don’t think you’ll be able to go very far with your golf cart. If you choose the gas version, you’ll be able to go about 250 miles (with usually a 6 gallon tank). And with a fully charged set of batteries for the electric version, you can expect 25-40 miles.

How much does it cost to fix a golf cart?

Of course, if you’re a good mechanic you can usually find a golf cart out of repair for less than $2000 and fix it up, but if you want a road ready golf cart, don’t go much lower than $2000. In the $5000-$7000 range, a lot can be found.

Can you drive a golf cart on the trails?

Always check your community’s/city’s regulations before driving your golf cart on streets or in parks, but if you plan on only using your golf cart on the course or on the trails for hunting and fishing, then there isn’t much to worry about. Please use your golf cart responsibly on trails, however.

Can you drive a golf cart in your neighborhood?

Check where the golf cart can be driven in your neighborhood. If your golf cart could be your grocery getter and daily driver for in-town trips, then it may be good for your car and wallet to go ahead and get that golf cart. Maybe you just want to use it on your land as a tool.

Is it better to buy a golf cart or a car?

Golf Cart vs Car. This is an important consideration regarding the purchase of a golf cart. There are a lot of places a golf cart can go that a car cannot, and if living in a community, it is often easier and more economical to use a golf cart than a car. This again depends on you.

Can you customize a golf cart?

You can customize your golf cart. As with adding a music system, you can also add lights, enclosures, extended trailer system in the back. There’s so much you can do with your golf cart to personalize it. You can even think about painting it or adding golf cart wraps with your favorite colors.

Can you tow a golf cart to the beach?

You’ll likely want to tow the golf cart to the beach or the music festival, so you’ll need to make sure you have a vehicle that can tow it or a truck that you can fit the golf cart inside the bed.