The Golfdom files: Before you build that golf course…
Nearly 60 years after this article ran in the March 1965 issue of Golfdom, golf course construction — both new courses and upgrades to existing courses — is on an upward swing, according to the National Golf Foundation. Read what an architect from the Northeast had to say about what to know before you build a new course. Does any of this hold true more than half a century later? To read the full story, click here.
Before you build that golf course…
By Geoffrey S. Cornish, Golf Course Architect, Amherst, Mass.
All over North America, land is being cleared and contoured for golf courses. Even though construction has experienced an amazing surge, there are many more golfers per course in many sections of the U.S. than a decade ago. About 350,000 persons took up the game in 1963. Including both nine- and 18-hole layouts, there is now only one golf course for every 900 or so golfers. About half of these courses are member owned country clubs catering to relatively few players.
In the June 1963 issue of Golfdom, I had the opportunity to discuss eight points to be considered when a course is built with a profit motive. It was noted that if it is well-designed, well-built and well-kept, a course can gross in excess of $100,000 annually from green fees alone, even in areas where the playing season is 30 weeks or slightly less.
Because of this article, numerous inquiries have been made from those who are contemplating course construction and from banks, insurance companies, financial institutions and federal agencies which are considering course financing. Because others may have similar problems the questions and the answers given are summarized as follows:
1. What is the worst mistake that can be made?
In my opinion, the most deadly is inadequate financing. Many outlays are necessary in addition to the course itself.
Furthermore, once the course is open for play, immediate profits are seldom realized. It may take several years before play approaches capacity. There may even be a year or two when operating expenses are not even met. Because so many outlays can be overlooked during the planning stage, an outline of those required before opening has been prepared. (It will appear in the April issue).
2. Do municipal courses offer unfair competition?
Owners of profit motive golf ventures may dread construction of a new municipal layout in their areas, feeling they will never be able to compete with the publicly owned course. In my experience, the municipal layout and the privately owned fee-type course seldom compete. I know of several cases where municipal courses have been built only a few miles from private ventures. In each case, the fears of the private operator have not been justified, although the municipal course has attracted large crowds. The truth is that generally there are plenty of golfers for every course, municipal or privately owned.
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