Developing a Golf Course

From virgin site to the opening day...

By Jonathan Gaunt, EIGCA Senior Member

Over recent years many landowners have become increasingly attracted to the idea of developing their property for golf. However,for any potential developer the seemingly simple task of building a golf course can become a complicated,drawn out and expensive affair.

There will need to be marketing studies and site suitability reports.Planning permission will be required.A project development team will need to be selected and the construction and grow-in properly managed.Finally the operation of the golf course will need to be determined,programmed and costed.

Before proceeding a developer needs to find answers to a number of important questions; What kind of course should be built? How can I be sure it will be successful? How much will it cost? How can revenues be maximised on the available acreage? What needs to be done to satisfy local and national environmental regulations? Are there enough prospective golfers who will want to play? To which market am I trying to appeal?

Successful developers are very choosy when it comes to developing potential golf course sites. There are a number of criteria that a good site must satisfy and the first is location.

This article first appeared in the Institute's Yearbook for 2007-2008.

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