How much does it cost to build a 18 hole course?

I'm sure everyone would like to own a private course. Realistically, not counting land costs, how much does a 18 hole course with multiple concrete tees cost? Please include professional design fees, tee signs etc. Anyone with experience in this area?

[Chuck Kennedy]

Budget about $20K-$25K barebones as long as there aren't lots of trees that need to be removed by professionals to clear fairways. That's 18 targets, 36 signs, 36 tee pads and design plus maybe some amenities like additional signs, benches or parking lot improvements that might be possible depending on your negotiations for the other prices.

[kindofabuzz]

why do you need 36 signs and pads for 18 targets?

Chuck Kennedy said:

Budget about $20K-$25K barebones as long as there aren't lots of trees that need to be removed by professionals to clear fairways. That's 18 targets, 36 signs, 36 tee pads and design plus maybe some amenities like additional signs, benches or parking lot improvements that might be possible depending on your negotiations for the other prices.

[Matt Sink]

Thanks Chuck, that's close to what I had figured. Spread out over a period of four or five years totally obtainable.

[Chuck Kennedy]

kindofabuzz said:

why do you need 36 signs and pads for 18 targets?

He asked about having at least 2 tees per hole.

[Nibs Carter]

your way too patient Matt!

[Matt Sink]

Not real patient at all. The concrete tees and signs can wait as can the multiple tees. Start with a good design, the baskets and work on improving the fairways. The course will slowly develop into a great course but should be playable much much sooner.

[Twoputt]

It would be much more cost effective to have single tees and mulitple basket placements.

You can do 18 baskets with two placements for each hole for less than 10K. and to add another placement its only $22 for another collar and about $6 for the concrete.

[Brandon Swanson]

Twoputt said:

It would be much more cost effective to have single tees and mulitple basket placements.

You can do 18 baskets with two placements for each hole for less than 10K. and to add another placement its only $22 for another collar and about $6 for the concrete.

Yes, multiple pin placements are good, and cheaper, but they aren't a replacement for multiple pads. The point of multiple tees isn't variation of play, they are created for levels of play and I think it's essential for a serious golf course. I think Matt has a good idea in mind of getting one pad per hole in the ground and adding tees as funding becomes available.

How much does one concrete tee pad run? I mean just the concrete, I could probably level it myself, or get a friend to help. This thread is opening my eyes to un-thought-of costs.

[Brandon Swanson]

Okay, when I said multiple pads are required for a serious course, I meant that a course should be accessible to people of varying strengths.

[Chuck Kennedy]

Twoputt said:

It would be much more cost effective to have single tees and mulitple basket placements.

You can do 18 baskets with two placements for each hole for less than 10K. and to add another placement its only $22 for another collar and about $6 for the concrete.

Multiple tees are much preferred over alternate pins. More players in the community can be served with multiple tees. Alternate pins are cheaper but less functional in terms of serving the community that typically provides the land. Multiple tees are even more important for private facilities that are pay-for-play since it will serve more player skill levels.

[Twoputt]

I can see both sides but I disagree that multiple tees are the only answer to serving more of the community. A different pin placement can make for a completely different hole, especially if the tee pad is rounded at the front to provide for more angles of attack.

[Chuck Kennedy]

Almost all of the courses I've designed have at least two tee pads and several only have one pin placement. I can't think of a course I've been involved with that has a single pad and multiple pins. It's not the way to design a course, especially on public land. I understand why clubs get boxed into doing this because Park Departments aren't savvy enough to realize that a single tee/multi-pin design will not serve their community as well as dual tees and one or more pins. If the club is forced to raise the money and pay for the course as they are in many places, it's only natural they'll go for the cheapest option which is one tee/multi-pin in order to get some variety. It doesn't mean it's the best design, just expedient and cost effective.

If you already have dual pads like the three main Highbridge courses, then adding multiple pins is fine if you have the room like I did there. The Campground beginner course and Woodland Greens at Highbridge only have one tee and one pin per hole, mainly because they are short enough to not really need a second tee.