All-Encompassing Guide to Golf Course Maintenance Golf is a major industry of its own. At nearly 9,500 golf clubs in the US, the industry is worth $84 billion. It employs over 2 million people, many of whom focus on maintenance. What is golf course maintenance? Golf course maintenance is more than just watering the greens and mowing the lawns.
Full Answer
What is golf course maintenance and why is it important?
We’ll begin by defining golf course maintenance. What Is Golf Course Maintenance? Golf course maintenance refers to maintenance activities done to keep course resources in good working condition. It includes repairing and replacing club assets, mowing and chemically treating turf, eliminating ball marks, improving playing conditions, and more.
What happened to the golf industry?
A few golf facilities have prospered since that difficult time but far more have struggled, some closing their doors while numerous others changed hands or significantly altered their business model.
What is the objective of a golf course management plan?
The objective is to use various flagsticks and tee block placements that challenge the golfers thinking and maintains quality of turf by spreading wear and reducing stress over various cupping and tee block areas. Greens will be checked with cups being changed daily in-season and off-season as needed.
What makes a good golf course?
Well, golf courses are like snowflakes – they’re all different. So I don’t want to generalize too much. But there are a few simple things. First, every course should have a lift, lift table and Accu-Gauge.
What do you do in golf course maintenance?
Golf course maintenance refers to maintenance activities done to keep course resources in good working condition. It includes repairing and replacing club assets, mowing and chemically treating turf, eliminating ball marks, improving playing conditions, and more.
How many employees does it take to maintain a golf course?
As a result, private facilities employ on average 10 full-time and 12 seasonal maintenance workers, while public courses have an average of six full-time and a dozen seasonal workers.
Why are maintenance costs so expensive for a golf course?
The greens. They are the most essential element of any course, but because of labor and equipment they are also the most expensive things to maintain — even if some of our demands are a costly waste. Firm and fast is the golf standard for greens.
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.
How much does it cost to maintain Augusta National?
between $100,000 and $300,000Membership is strictly by invitation: there is no application process. In 2004, USA Today published a list of all the current members. Membership is believed to cost between $100,000 and $300,000 and annual dues were estimated in 2020 to be less than $30,000 per year.
How much revenue does a golf course generate?
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 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.
Why is Pebble Beach so expensive?
The Pebble experience The reason Pebble Beach, built in 1919, costs what it does is because that's the market for America's most beloved public course. “If I only had one round of golf left to play, I would want to play it at Pebble Beach,” Nicklaus once said.
How much does a golf course spend on fertilizer?
Fertigation is becoming the way for golf courses to be able to fertilize the grounds in the most efficient and cost-effective way. Did you know that golf courses spend $25,000 to over $100,000 on fertilizer annually?
How often is a golf course mowed?
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.
Where is the world's largest golf course complex?
Mission Hills ShenzhenMission Hills Shenzhen is a twelve course 18-hole course golf resort, located in the town of Guanlan (觀瀾) in Shenzhen, between the cities of Shenzhen and Dongguan. It is accredited as the world's largest golf facility by the Guinness World Records in 2004, surpassing the Pinehurst Resort in the United States.
How fast does golf course grass grow back?
"Research has shown that a repaired ball mark recovers weeks faster than an unrepaired one," said Cory Adams, the superintendent of Golf Village at The Club at Admirals Cove in Jupiter, which comprises 27 holes. "It takes 48 hours to recover if a ball mark is repaired properly. If not, it takes weeks to recover."
What is the mission of the Golf Course?
Mission Statement: To prepare, preserve and maintain the golf course as the major club asset and to afford the opportunity to provide enjoyment to its members and guests. To protect, understand and fulfill the golf course architect's vision and goals for a firm, fast and fair golf challenge for all levels of player abilities.
What are the objectives of a golf course?
Objectives: The course will be maintained such that excellent playing conditions exist for both the championship and the average golfer. The golf course should play near championship standards, within weather limitations, on a continued basis and at championship standards for certain events.
Where is the GCSAA located?
From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan. , the association provides education, information and representation to more than 20,000 members in more than 72 countries.
What is the goal of maintenance?
The goal of maintenance is the least amount of interference and inconsistencies as possible . Environmental stewardship and resource management will impact selecting and applying products to the golf course.
Can dogs run at large on a golf course?
Parents must not permit their children to run at large on the golf course or the practice putting green. Dogs are not permitted to run at large on club property. All matters relating to the golf course and its upkeep are the responsibility of the Green Committee.
What is the most frequently mowed area of golf courses?
Putting greens are the most frequently mowed area of golf courses and the associated costs are significant. Mower technology has improved to the point where triplex units can produce a quality of cut equivalent to that of walk-behind mowers.
Why are golf courses removed from the Southwest?
Out of necessity, many courses in the Southwest removed maintained rough in peripheral areas to cut down on water usage and save money. For years, golf courses have also replaced mown rough with naturalized or unmown rough.
How does failing to invest affect golf?
Failing to invest in improvements and upgrades may also affect how golfers perceive a facility. Golf is a competitive business, and golfers are more likely to play at golf courses that demonstrate a commitment to quality by making improvements.
How did the recession affect golf?
These effects are not surprising given the challenges created by an oversupply of golf courses that is partially the product of the aging golfer demographic and declining participation rates among younger generations. Furthermore, extended periods of severe drought have increased the price of water and limited its availability for golf courses.
What was the effect of the recession on golf courses?
The good news is that the recession caused golf facilities to re-evaluate maintenance practices, presentation options and course amenities. Many golf courses were forced to differentiate between essential and nonessential maintenance programs so they could focus on what matters most.
Is golf course maintenance competitive?
Golf course maintenance work is demanding and the labor market is very competitive. Recruiting and retaining reliable maintenance staff is currently one of the biggest challenges at golf facilities across the country. Additionally, there are many hidden costs associated with hiring and training new maintenance employees.
Did golf courses have enough liquid capital?
Some courses obtained terrific deals on capital expenditures during the worst of the recession. Unfortunately, many courses simply did not have enough liquid capital to take advantage of the reduced pricing offered by golf course contractors.
CAN THE GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY EXHALE YET?
As the world first emerged from isolation and social distancing in 2020, quarantine-weary golfers found their way back to the golf course in near-record numbers.
REALITY CHECK: THERE WILL ALWAYS BE GOLF COURSE CLOSINGS
Regardless of how much or for how long the game continues to enjoy its current resurgence, the truth is there will always be golf course closings. Golf courses, like any other business type, can fail from bad management or poor decision-making.
GREENS FEES AND MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE LIKELY TO GO UP
Golf country club membership fees or the cost of a round of golf are likely to increase at many properties in 2022 if they haven’t already. Joe Beditz shared NGF data that more than one-third of public golf courses increased their peak-season weekend green fees in 2021.
THE BIGGER YOU ARE IN THE GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY, THE BRIGHTER THE FUTURE MAY SEEM
Last summer, CNBC TV interviewed Chip Brewer on “Closing Bell,” a show devoted to day trading, money managers, and investor news. Brewer has been President and CEO of Callaway Golf since 2012. Interviewer Morgan Brennan asked Brewer to go to his crystal ball and look at the near-term future of the golf industry.
Features - Management
How does the work get done when the golf footprint is much bigger than 18 holes? A trio of experienced leaders share their philosophies behind handling an abundance of moving parts.
Putting it all together in the Pacific Northwest
Ryan Semritc is the superintendent at the Willows Run Golf Complex, a public facility in Redmond, Washington, that features two 18-hole layouts plus a nine-hole course. He tends to 49 greens in all.
Carolinas coordination
Lee Hancock is the director of golf course maintenance at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina, where he’s spent the last six years. The 500-acre site includes three golf courses.
