Getting The Swing Of The Golf Business - information sources on starting a golf course

Nation's Business, Oct, 1998

I'd like to start a golf course. Where can I find the necessary information? J.V., Vestal, N.Y The National Golf Foundation in Jupiter, Fla., calls itself "the world's foremost provider of golf business information." It can be reached by calling 1-888643-2500 or by filling out an electronic form at www.ngf.org on the World Wide Web.

Membership fees vary, but the foundation's standard corporate fee is $1,000 a year. Other groups you can contact include the Golf Course Builders Association of America in Chapel Hill, NC., and the National Golf Course Owners Association in Mount Pleasant, S.C. The builders group can be reached at (919) 942-8922 or through an electronic-mail link at www.gcbaa.org. The owners association can be reached at (803) 881-9956 or through an e-mail link at www.ngcoa.com. The National Golf Foundation says anyone thinking of building a golf course should conduct a feasibility study to determine if the course could be profitable in the chosen location. Among the many companies providing such services is a consulting firm that is a subsidiary of the foundation. In addition, the organization has publications designed to help those interested in developing a golf course. Golf is a rapidly growing business. The number of golfers age 12 and over in the United States has reached 26.5 million, a 33 percent increase since 1986. According to the foundation, almost 6 million people are avid golfers--meaning they play 25 or more rounds a year. Today's typical golfer is a 39-year-old male who plays 21 rounds a year and has a household income of $63,300. Golfers spend $15.1 billion a year on equipment, related merchandise, and playing fees; they spend $2.2 billion for golf clubs alone. According to the latest figures, there are 16,010 golf courses in the United States. Florida leads the states with 1,170 courses, followed by California with 942 and Michigan with 906. At the end of 1997, 932 courses were under construction, and more than 700 were in the planning stages.