
- Think about how much time and space you have. It will be more work than you think to design the course, maintain it, and depending on how complex it ...
- Start with the equipment. Make sure you have a pitching wedge/sand wedge and a putter. ...
- Decide what kind of ground you will have the course on. ...
- Mow the fairway. It would be neat to mow every other row, so it's striped like a real fairway. You should mow the fairway every 3-4 days.
- Mow the green. To mow the green, set your mower blades to the lowest setting so the grass is extra short.
- Create 2-3 sand traps/hazards. Buy 2-3 large sandbags at a hardware store. You shouldn't need any more than three sand traps throughout your course.
- Finally, maintain your course! At real courses, they have crews come out every day to maintain the courses.
Full Answer
How long does it take to build a golf course?
How Long Does It Take To Build A Golf Course? It could take as little as 1 year to build a course but could easily take up to 2 years to obtain all the required permits and complete the construction. This excludes the bedding in the period once the construction is complete. The Kiawah Island Ocean Course was built in three years between 1989 ...
How to build a homemade mini golf course?
Miniature Golf (Putt Putt) Course
- Materials. Purchase or scrounge the material. ...
- Build the Bases. Build 4 by 8 rectangles with pressure treated 2x4s. ...
- Create Bases for the Courses. For each course, we dug 4 post holes to the frost level (one post hole for each corner of the rectangle).
- Mount Rectangular Bases Onto the 4x4 Foundation. ...
- Put on the Carpet. ...
- Finishing Touches. ...
How to make a golf course in your backyard?
Steps Download Article
- Think about how much time and space you have. It will be more work than you think to design the course, maintain it, and depending on how complex it ...
- Start with the equipment. Make sure you have a pitching wedge/sand wedge and a putter. ...
- Decide what kind of ground you will have the course on. ...
- Mow the fairway. ...
- Mow the green. ...
How do you design a golf course?
How to Become a Golf Course Designer
- Method 1 of 3: Getting the Right Experience Download Article PRO. Get a landscape architecture degree. ...
- Method 2 of 3: Developing Your Skills Download Article PRO. Take up golf as a hobby. ...
- Method 3 of 3: Finding a Job Download Article PRO. Take the Landscape Architect Registration Examination. ...

How much money does it take to build a golf course?
The median cost to build a golf course is $14 million, not including buying the land. The lowest-priced golf courses cost $7 million. Others cost as much as $25 million. Building greens is one of the most important tasks, and it can cost as much as $60 per square foot.
How many acres do you need to build golf course?
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.
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 goes into building a golf course?
These are just some of the many steps that go into building a golf course....Steps in the Golf Course Building ProcessGrading. ... Drainage. ... Rough and Finish Shaping. ... Green Construction. ... Tee Construction. ... Bunker Construction. ... Grassing and Seed Prep.More items...
How many acres is an average 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).
How much water do golf courses use?
In California, an average 18-hole golf course sprawls over 110 to 115 acres and conservatively uses almost 90 million gallons of water per year, enough to fill 136 Olympic-size swimming pools, said Mike Huck, a water management consultant who works with golf courses statewide.
What is the profit margin on golf clubs?
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.
What does it take to manage a golf course?
Golf managers must ensure that golf courses compete for entertainment dollars. They have to make sure the game isn't just a sport, but an experience....Golf course marketing strategiesSocial media. ... Pay per click (PPC) and digital marketing. ... Email marketing. ... Text messaging and mobile apps. ... Selling the experience.More items...•
Is a driving range a good investment?
How much profit can a driving range make? An indoor facility with full-service restaurant and rental space in a high-traffic urban environment can see a net profit of up to $2.9 million a year. However, if you have a low-tech field in the country, you could see an income as low as $40,000 a year.
How do people design golf courses?
Modern courses now tend to be designed with the front 9 and the back 9 positioned on separate loops beginning and ending at the clubhouse. This has been put into place to be more convenient to golfers if they choose to play just 9 holes, or wish to take a break in the club in between holes 1-9 and 10-18.
Where is the best place to build a golf course?
Since they're on the subject, the architect's representative points out that, in fact, sites that are in or near forest should really be considered the most desirable (even though it might increase construction costs). Having fairways separated by majestic trees will make for a great golf experience.
How much land do you need for a 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.
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...
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.
How big should a fairway be?
Depending on how big your backyard is, you should make the fairway about 8–10 feet (2.4–3.0 m). across. Make sure the grass around the fairway is rather long (3-4 in.) so you have a rough. Also, always make sure the fairway is a little longer than the green.
How many sand traps do you need for a golf course?
You shouldn't need any more than three sand traps throughout your course. Try to have at least one along the side of the fairway and at least one in front, behind, or alongside the green. The sand traps should be no bigger than 5 feet (1.5 m). x 5 feet (1.5 m).
How to play golf in your backyard?
Start with the equipment. Make sure you have a pitching wedge/sand wedge and a putter. These are the only clubs you will really need if you're just golfing in your backyard. Make sure to have multiple balls, since you may lose some. Also make sure you have a good grass mower that can cut the grass nice and short.
How often do you mow a golf course?
At real courses, they have crews come out every day to maintain the courses. While you may not need to mow your course every day, just every 3-4 days, just take about 15-20 minutes from your day to check up on your course. Invite some friends over to play together, this will make it a lot more fun!
What is wikihow wiki?
X. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 58,408 times.
How to make a golf course in your backyard?
1. Think about how much time and space you have. It will be more work than you think to design the course, maintain it, and depending on how complex it is, you may not be able to tear it down if you don't want it anymore. You will need a fairly large backyard in order to do this. Of course, it's just going to be one hole.
How big should a golf green be?
Leave a few feet in between for the rough. The green should be, depending on the size of your course, roughly around 8 feet (2.4 m). x 8 feet (2.4 m). Try to make the green about the same width as the fairway.
Golf Course Business Plan Template
Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their golf courses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning.
What Is a Business Plan?
A business plan provides a snapshot of your golf course business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.
Why You Need a Business Plan
If you’re looking to start a golf course, or grow your existing golf course, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your golf course in order to improve your chances of success.
Sources of Funding for Golf Courses
With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a golf course are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest.
Golf Course Business Plan Template
If you want to start a golf course or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your golf course business plan template:
Executive Summary
Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.
Company Analysis
In your company analysis, you will detail the type of golf course you are operating.

Feasibility Studies
- 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, vegetat...
- Market– is there a market need for your golf course? Will your course fulfil market requireme…
- 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, vegetat...
- Market– is there a market need for your golf course? Will your course fulfil market requirements, locally and potentially internationally? What demand is there and how can you satisfy this to best...
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. Irrigation 5. Grassing / landscaping 6. Gre…
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…