I've seen these type threads going in other forums on 2+2 so thought I'd add my own. I'm co owner of a mid range public golf course in the Southeast. I went to an SEC school where I earned a BS in Turf grass and played golf there as well. On any given day I'm a head pro, superintendent , cook, business manager, tournament director, range ball picker upper and golf cart washer or all of them at once sometimes.

There's a ton of stuff that goes into day to day operations at a golf course that people don't realize or would find interesting. Ask away and I'll check back as often as I can to answer.

Do public/semi-private golf courses generally make money? Is it like professional sports where the worst teams are often the most profitable (because they don't spend any money)?

Do you think the market for golf courses is oversaturated right now?

How many employees are there?

What parts of the job do you enjoy the most? The least?

How many rounds/year do you play at your course? Other courses?

How many hours a week do you usually work?

What state is the course in? What SEC school?

Public golf is holding it's own right now even though rounds are down substantially the last few years. There appears to have been somewhat of an Exodus from Clubs and those rounds are being spread amongst public facilities if that makes sense?

You can make good money if you have the demographics and can fill non peak times on your tee sheet.

I think certain areas are definitely over saturated from the "Tiger Boom" . 10 years ago I would have said no and that golf was still rapidly growing.

It's hard to not spend money back into your course and keep people coming back these days. 20 years ago you might be the only one around and could get bad with old carts, ****** sand in your bunkers etc but not so much now.

Upwards of 30 employees in the summer and as few as possible in the winter time down to like 10 full time and part time help as needed.

I hate the paper work and business stuff and like being in the shop and dealing with people overall. Sometimes I get tired of that too and would rather grab my ipod and go mow fairways though.

I don't play much at our place or at all for that fact. I tend to go somewhere else or play on vacations etc. I've succumbed to the golf burnout from being in the business that many claim. I used to hit 500 balls a day and play at least every other day. I'm kinda to the point to that if I have 4 hours to kill I'm going to do something else.

It can be a 70-80 hours a week in the Summer time. We've hardly been open the last month with all the crazy weather and snow the South has had this Winter.

Alabama/Auburn

How did you get the capital to buy the course? Bank loan? Rich partner?

Did you have a lot of experience working different jobs at golf courses prior to buying this one?

How do you cook and pick up range balls at the same time?

Do you use tombstones for steps up to tee boxes?

how negotiable are the annual/season pass rates? i normally buy one over the summer (cheap time of year here in az) and if its ok for me to offer less than the going rate. and i have a buddy who typically buys one with me so could we work the group discount angle?

My father is a golf course superintendent. I've spent nearly every day of my life on or at a golf course. I've worked for several country clubs as well as the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama.

Our range is close to our grill. I make a couple passes then come back to flip.

I prorate mine down to the week and have them expire Dec 31st. I always put them on sale during Christmas time to help create some Winter revenue. Our 18 hole GF is $20 M-F and $24 Sa&Su&Holidays. My annual pass is 900 +tax (no cart) . I normally don't deal unless it's repeat business or a few people together. I'd definitely knock a $100 off for 2-3 and maybe more for more people. It would be hard to get a deal like this through a corporation owned course.

No but I did have a senior, who was one of our regulars, drop dead on #4 Tee box about 3 years ago.

do the guys who scuba dive to get golf balls pay you or do you pay them?

I pay them. My guy grades them and packages the good stuff and then stripes the left overs for range balls. Works out good and we always have good range balls.