Is the golf course construction industry a good business to get into for the upcoming years?

Question

Is the golf course construction industry a good business to get into for the upcoming years?

Answer 1

Since the Tiger era of bringing people to the game has worn down, I dont think a lot of golf courses will be opening in the coming years.  Golfweek just had an article in its latest issue (i think) that showed the steady decrease in courses built per year.  So I would suggest going into a different field, but do what you like.  I myself am thinking of going into either architecture or golf course design.

Answer 2

Depends if there is any land left?

Answer 3

Construction is down a little from what I hear.  We kind of oversaturated with new courses, and since junior programs are declining as well there might not be as much demand in the future as there was.  On the other hand the baby-boomers are starting to retire and there are millions of them all over the world so I don't think golf construction is doomed just yet.

Answer 4

Depends on how international you want to go.  I think the US is potentially flat due to our demographics & the increased environmental issues, lack of good land, costs, etc.  While, the Asian & Latin American markets might be a big boom for quite a few years.  There are quite a few players coming from these nations and their economies are becoming stronger... so the natural progression is more wealth, greater leisure time + more names at the tops of their fields = more interest in the game.  That increases demand for new courses.

Answer 5

Hi Jacob,

As I don't know where you live, it is difficult to answer correctly. I do know that, if you are willing to travel then yes it would be a good business for the long term. I live in Guatemala, a country with only a handful of golf courses, but even here there is a mega project going on right now - an international company is building a golf course with three huge artificial lakes, 150 luxury homes, hotel and other amenities. I believe the trend for these types of golf developments have a huge potential in the Developing Countries of the World. I have heard of more of these golf course developments being built in Egypt, the Middle East, Asia, South Africa and Latin America.

So yes, if I were younger, I would consider a career in golf course construction / architecture.

I hope that answered your question. You can find some golf course articles over at my site: http://golf-online-tips.com/course/

Answer 6

There are a number of companies which are already established in the design and construction game. Several are named golfers who have a foot in the door. and became affiliated with a good course designer. Others like Davis Love lll have put more of their time into course design than on the tour. As their work is accepted and published the competition will only become keener.