A flood of new faces coupled with increased engagement by core golfers resulted in a significant increase in play at many golf courses across the country in 2020. Even with many golf courses being closed for extended periods last spring, the golf industry saw a 14% year-over-year increase in rounds according to National Golf Foundation (NGF) data. Golf facilities are looking at ways to not only retain this renewed excitement but continue to build upon it for 2021.
One area of focus are capital improvement projects. Whether it is addressing aging infrastructure components like drainage and irrigation, or updating the bunker design, many golf facilities these days are talking renovation. Although the areas of concern on a specific golf course might seem obvious, understanding the cost associated with addressing each of these components can be less straightforward.
Fortunately, the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA) has recently updated their Cost Estimating Guide, which provides average prices for 80 different line items associated with common golf course construction projects. The guide includes seven broad project categories such as: 18-hole renovation, 18-hole renovation with rototill, USGA greens renovation, tee renovation, bunker renovation, irrigation renovation, new 18-hole construction and a build-your-own-project manual mode. Pricing estimates for each of the line items is unique to each state, and even regions within a state, and serves as a good starting point for determining project costs. Along with the line-item pricing information, the guide also details average quantities of construction units.
The GCBAA Cost Estimating Guide is a great resource for superintendents who are contemplating a renovation and need to answer that ever-so-common question: “How much does something like this cost?”
Visit GCBAA.org to purchase the newly updated Cost Estimating Guide.
Northeast Region Agronomists:
Adam Moeller, director, Green Section Education – amoeller@usga.org
Darin Bevard, director, Championship Agronomy – dbevard@usga.org
Elliott Dowling, agronomist – edowling@usga.org
John Daniels, agronomist – jdaniels@usga.org
Information on the USGA’s Course Consulting Service
Contact the Green Section Staff