
- Getting Started in Golf Course Design Golf course designers are essentially architects. ...
- Learn the Appropriate Skills & Knowledge There are any number of skills that will be useful for all golf course designers to have when beginning their careers. ...
- Build Your Experience & Industry Connections
- Step 1: Earn a Degree in Landscape Architecture. ...
- Step 2: Become a Licensed Landscape Architect. ...
- Step 3: Find Work with a Golf Design Company. ...
- Step 4: Consider Joining a Professional Organization.
How do I develop a golf course?
Top of the list for any potential golf course developer should be the engagement of a golf course architect (search the EIGCA member database ). Your golf course architect will lead your development from concept to completion and ease any bumps along the way, helping to avoid the project becoming unnecessarily complicated, drawn out and expensive.
How do I become a golf course designer?
To become a golf course designer, get the right degree, gain experience while in college through jobs and internships, and then take the test to get your license. Get a landscape architecture degree.
How do I become a certified golf pro?
In order to obtain this certification, however, golf pro candidates must endure years of training and hard work. From teaching to managing tours, potential pros must exhibit a high degree of competency in every aspect of the industry.
How do I get a job in the golf industry?
Job experience around the sport of golf can help you gain experience, understand the game, and be more marketable to future employers. Look for a job at a local golf course, with a golf professional, or a golf course company. It doesn't matter what kind of job you get.

How does one become a golf course architect?
Golf course architects come from varying backgrounds, with training in landscape architecture, civil engineering, environmental studies, agronomy, golf course construction and professional golf, to name a few. The most common degree amongst golf architects is landscape architecture.
How much money can you make owning a golf course?
Golf Course Owners make between $30,000 to several hundred thousand dollars per year. However, golf course owners sometimes will lose money if the course has a bad year. Overall, the golf course industry is very volatile, and there is no guarantee that money will be made.
Is building a golf course a good investment?
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.
What skills do you need to be a golf course designer?
Beyond passion, golf course designers must have a wide variety of skills, including the ability to problem-solve, understand construction materials and their limitations, as well as be able to communicate both in writing and verbally with a variety of administrators, bureaucrats, and other interested parties.
How many acres are needed 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 do golf courses make money?
Ways To Raise Money For Your Golf Course. 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.
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 much money does it take annually to maintain a perfect golf course?
The cost to achieve and maintain the golf course condition players expect, or will at least tolerate, ranges from roughly $500,000 a year for a daily-fee course to a cool million a year for a private club, according to Bob Randquist, chief operating officer of the Golf Course Superintendents' Association of America.
How many acres is a typical 18 hole golf course?
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).
What does a golf course architect do?
Golf course architects are responsible for the topography and layout of a golf facility's playing surface, and they may also design the club facilities. They perform site evaluations and oversee construction work. Many golf course architects complete a landscape architecture bachelor's degree program.
What kind of jobs are in golf?
What are Some Great Careers in the Golf Industry?Director of Golf. As a golf director, your responsibilities will be to oversee all of the golf operations at a golf club or country club. ... Club Professional. ... Teaching Professional. ... College of High School Coach. ... General Manager. ... Golf Writer. ... Golf Retailer. ... Clubmaker and Repairer.More items...
Who has designed the most golf courses?
H.S. Colt, as he's often referred to, is a Golden Age architect with a whopping 11 course design credits appearing on the Top 100. That's three more than any other architect on the list. Mackenzie and Old Tom Morris come in second with eight apiece, while Tillinghast is fourth with seven designs.
Golf Course Designer Careers
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a golf course designer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $23.61 an hour? That's $49,114 a year!
Golf Course Designer Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes.
Average Salary for a Golf Course Designer
Golf Course Designers in America make an average salary of $49,114 per year or $24 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $63,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $37,000 per year.
Online Courses For Golf Course Designer That You May Like
Teach Online! Turn your expertise, knowledge, experience, or passion into an ONLINE COURSE! Filming, editing, curriculum...
Top Skills For a Golf Course Designer
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on.
How Do Golf Course Designer Rate Their Jobs?
Rate how you like work as Golf Course Designer. It's anonymous and will only take a minute.
What do golf course designers discuss?
This can include such things as the layout and difficulty level of the course. During these initial meetings, a designer will also usually discuss a proposed budget as well.
What makes a golf course challenging?
The ground surrounding each hole will typically be sloped at slight angles, which makes it challenging for a golfer to tap the ball into the holes. Besides the main components of a golf course, a golf course designer will also usually design some of the less prominent aspects as well.
What are the most common water hazards on a golf course?
Sand pits and water hazards, such as ponds and creeks, are generally the most common types of water hazards on a golf course. The greens are the parts of a golf course where the holes are located. These are typically some of the most difficult aspects of a golf course to design. The ground surrounding each hole will typically be sloped ...
What is the most common tee area in golf?
The most common tee areas include the championship tee, men’s tee, and women’s tee. Once a golfer hits the ball from the teeing area, it will usually travel along the fairway.
How many holes are there in golf?
Typical golf courses usually have either 9 or 18 holes. Each of these holes consists of several different areas, including the teeing ground, fairway, rough, and green. There are also usually several obstacles, referred to as hazards, scattered throughout the course. The teeing ground is the area where golfers start playing a hole.
Where are hazards placed in golf courses?
These can be located just about anywhere, but they are often placed at the edges of fairways and greens.
Where does the ball travel when hitting the tee?
Once a golfer hits the ball from the teeing area, it will usually travel along the fairway. This is the area of a golf hole that lies between the teeing area and the green. In some instances, the fairway is a straight shot to the green.
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.
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.
What is the most common degree for a golf course architect?
Golf course architects come from varying backgrounds, with training in landscape architecture, civil engineering, environmental studies, agronomy, golf course construction and professional golf, to name a few. The most common degree amongst golf architects is landscape architecture.
What degree do golf architects have?
The most common degree amongst golf architects is landscape architecture. In addition to formal education, time spent “on the job” learning about golf course maintenance and golf course construction is important to learn the technical aspects of the profession.
What is a course developer?
A course developer is the person who creates instructional programs and designs them in a way that is accessible to students.#N#The day-to-day tasks of a course developer may differ depending on the kind of organization they work for and its specific needs. They may work on pinpointing a skill that employees need training for, structuring a course for maximum effectiveness, and evaluating a course after it is completed to see how much students actually learned.#N#Many course developers have bachelor's degrees in business or a related field, and some go on to complete certificates specifically in course development to show their skills to potential employers. They need to know a lot about business needs and educational techniques in order to do their job effectively.
How much does a course developer make?
Course Developers in America make an average salary of $76,547 per year or $37 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $112,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $51,000 per year.
What are the best states to work as a course developer?
The best states for people in this position are Connecticut, New Jersey, California, and Rhode Island . Course developers make the most in Connecticut with an average salary of $101,343. Whereas in New Jersey and California , they would average $92,876 and $92,262, respectively. While course developers would only make an average of $89,794 in Rhode Island, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
What is a golf pro?
A golf pro is someone who has completed the requirements to become certified as a professional by the Professional Golfer's Association. Golf pros often manage golf courses and provide lessons to other golfers.
What do golf pros do?
There are several primary tasks that golf pros perform depending on the position a golf club has hired them for, including:
How to become a golf pro
In order to become a golf pro certified by the Professional Golf Association, there are several steps that you can take:
Salary
The average salary for a professional golfer is $29,569 per year. There are many job titles that golf pros have while working at golf courses, such as
Tips for becoming a golf pro
Becoming a golf pro requires extensive knowledge of the game and the ability to perform very well when playing. Here are some tips for becoming a successful golf professional:
What is a golf course groundskeeper?
A golf course groundskeeper is the person who maintains the land and plant life on a golf course. Golf courses can comprise over 50 acres of land covered with grass and aesthetically pleasing foliage. They also have golf pins—holes in the grass—and a variety of obstacles that characterize the course, like ponds or sand pits.
Job requirements for golf course groundskeepers
Here are some general job requirements if you're interested in becoming a golf course groundskeeper:
Average salary
The national average salary for a groundskeeper is $42,564 per year. The average overtime compensation for this position is $4,000 a year as well.
Work environment
A golf course's work environment may differ depending on its location. Groundskeepers mostly work outside and, because of golf course standards, they typically work in grassy and foliage-heavy environments. This may be a benefit for someone who prefers to be outside, wants to work with their hands and enjoys gardening.
Is becoming a golf pro right for me?
The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:
How to become a Golf Pro
Requirements for becoming a golf pro vary with the type of position desired. For touring professionals, there is usually no certification required other than a PGA or Ladies Professional Golfer's Association (LPGA) membership.

Feasibility Studies
Design Concept
- Your golf course architect will assess design opportunities and restraints and review site surveys (see common limitations below). They combine these with your objectives and vision for a successful course to create a design concept which shows potential locations of all the major elements of the project. Common limitations- the common limitations which restrict golf course …
Masterplan
- Once the feasibility studies are complete, the Masterplan investigates how the design concept will convert into a course people are able to play on and enjoy. This is the stage when the golf course layout, including locations for the clubhouse and maintenance facilities, the playing surfaces and landscape character, location, style and size of features, e.g. lakes, streams, walls, bridges and p…
Planning Approval
- Planning requirements differ greatly from one country to another and obtaining planning permission can be burdensome and lengthy. 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 Impa…
Tenders
- Your golf course architect will prepare detailed documentation, including contracts, plans and specifications to allow the project to be tendered. If you need them to, they will also assist in evaluating tender responses and select the best contractors for you. The documentation may include plans for: 1. Grading 2. Drainage 3. Clearing 4. Irrigatio...
Golf Course Construction
- As your golf course architect understands all elements of the build and will be your project leader, they will assist in developing an accurate construction programme. Part of their role is to regularly visit the site during construction to ensure the course is built according to the contract documents and agreed timetable.
Establishment
- At this point in the development, your golf course will nearly be ready for play, leaving just the final details before it can open. Your golf course architect will mark out mowing lines for the greens, fairways and roughs, and sand lines for the bunkers. The final stage of making their design a reality is to establish a maintenance regime with the course superintendent to create the overall …
Selecting A Golf Course Architect
- Do you want to do your own research into suitable golf course architects and approach them direct? Search the EIGCA member databaseto find an EIGCA member who fits your needs
- Do you want the EIGCA to do the legwork for you? Use our Member Referral Serviceby sending a brief to us and we will distribute it to our members on your behalf
- Do you want to organise a design competition? Find out how by using our competition guideli…
- Do you want to do your own research into suitable golf course architects and approach them direct? Search the EIGCA member databaseto find an EIGCA member who fits your needs
- Do you want the EIGCA to do the legwork for you? Use our Member Referral Serviceby sending a brief to us and we will distribute it to our members on your behalf
- Do you want to organise a design competition? Find out how by using our competition guidelines
Cost of Building 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. Fees are usually calculated in one of three ways: 1. As a percentage of the construction costs 2. A fixed p…