WHY BUILD A GOLF COURSE?

There are many valid reasons for building a golf course.  These include wanting a course as an amenity for a resort or hotel, to benefit selling houses around its fairways and within a residential golf community, for the recreation of club members, as the site for tournaments, as a “green” business to operate for profit, by a municipality for the healthful recreation of its citizens while also attracting visitors or tourists and combinations of these reasons. 

HOW MUCH LAND DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A GOLF COURSE?

Most golfers expect a golf course to have 18 holes with a par of about 72, plus a practice range and practice greens.  This typically requires from 140 to 180 acres of useable land.  Nine holes with a par of 35 or 36 should take about half the acreage.  However if nine holes are built initially, it is still better if there is enough land to design a second nine at the same time, for eventual expansion to 18.  

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BUILD A GOLF COURSE?

The type of soil, how much soil must be moved, the method of constructing the greens, any major drainage required, the type of irrigation system, costs involved in meeting regulatory requirements, who does the construction and other factors all influence the total cost of constructing a golf course.  The cost per hole can vary from $50,000 to more than $175,000 for some upscale courses.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER KINDS OF GOLF COURSES WORTH CONSIDERING?

Executive, par 3, pitch and putt golf courses and Cayman courses are all smaller than conventional golf courses, so they all require less land.  An 18-hole executive course can take approximately 100 acres, an 18-hole par 3 less than 65 acres, an 18-hole pitch and putt course 25 to 30 acres and a Cayman course about the same.  Since each of these have shorter, narrower fairways and typically smaller greens than for conventional courses, they also all cost significantly less to construct and have lower annual maintenance budgets.

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.

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A GOLF COURSE, WHAT WILL HELP YOU IN MAKING THE SMARTEST DECISION?

If you are thinking about building a golf course, before making a final decision, first learn the answers to essential questions from an expert in this field.  If you don’t yet have land for the course, you can find out the essentials for an appropriate site.  If you already have land, a description of it, maps, photographs and even arranging a visit for a site analysis will allow you to obtain valuable specific information about its suitability for a golf course.  Other important questions can be how long is it likely to take until you could open the course to start collecting fees, who is likely to play your course, what kind of a clubhouse should you have, what maps of the site are required for planning the course and other critical questions.

FREE ADVICE

For answers on these and other important matters, please contact Golf Course Architect Bill Amick at amick@iag.net or (386) 767-1449.  Bill is a past president and Fellow in the American Society of Golf Course Architects.  There is no cost or obligation for your inquiries.  If you would like a copy of my brochure, please send me your mailing address.  Take this important step to learn more about the possibility of building a popular golf course you will be pleased and proud to call yours!