There are many ways to bring golf to your community, whether in the form of a driving range, learning facility, short course, or a regulation golf course. In any event, the goal of a golf community should be centered around practicality. Facilities should be inexpensive and easy to build and maintain with minimal player fees. Practical facilities that best serve your members are the key to success in the greatest game ever played.
Why is that? Because the best golf facilities will allow new players from all walks of life to discover the game of golf.
Making golf affordable, accessible, and practically turns new players into life-long participants and loyal customers. Keeping the game within the economic reach of your demographic makes golf more accessible. To decrease the amount of time between your initial investment and a return, you’ll need to focus on building low-cost, high-function facilities. These are the four non-negotiable buildings that should be found on any golf course.
- A-Pro Shop:
The size of your pro shop will depend on the level of service you plan to offer at your golf course, but this building should be at least a few hundred square feet. The minimal requirements include a counter or desk for a cash register and fixtures and enough room for at least one employee.
If affordability and accessibility are your goals, then you should keep in mind that many new customers are coming to be educated. Your pro shop should be welcoming and provide the space and supplies necessary for players to spend more time at your facility. This may include serving food and drinks or providing enough space to carry your pro staff’s recommended clubs for first-timers.
The best way to maintain your lowest possible cost is to choose a prefabricated building that can be easily customized for aesthetics. Stone facades, custom windows, and welcoming doorways can turn a prefabricated metal building into an eye-catching new facility.
2. Maintenance equipment storage:
This may likely be your most expensive investment when creating a new golfing community. A variety of mowers should be available for various types of greens, and aerators will be an absolute necessity for the health of the grounds. Modern sprayers can be used to maximize the application of fertilizers and all necessary pesticides. The list can go on and on as your golf course gets larger, more upscale, and more full service.
Many simple pieces of equipment, like rakes and other hand tools, can be stored in something as simple as a lean-to behind your pro shop. But the rest of your equipment will need maximum protection from the elements. To protect your investment and save money on long term maintenance, you’ll need to build a facility that is pest resistant and durable in a variety of weather conditions. Steel is the ideal choice for storing large maintenance equipment because:
- No pest can snack on the man-made metal, unlike organic building materials like wood.
- Prefabricated steel buildings are strong enough to withstand earthquakes, heavy snowfall, and hurricane-force winds.
- The clear span design doesn’t require any interior columns, making it easy to move large equipment in and out of overhead doors.
3. Golf Cart Storage:
Not every type of golf facility will require a fleet of golf carts. But, just like maintenance equipment, your carts will require storage to maximize the life of your investment. This may be in the same building as your maintenance equipment, but you’ll want to keep the two separated by an interior wall. Maintenance equipment will gather a great deal of dirt and grass that could settle on your carts well after they are cleaned.
Many courses opt to install a drainage system into the concrete floors of their prefabricated metal storage buildings. This allows for easy cleaning of an entire fleet of golf carts.
4.Restrooms:
Handicap accessible restrooms are a bare minimum for your facility. You’ll want restrooms on your golf course or range to be convenient for both you and your customers – they should be easy to find and easy to clean. The same prefabricated metal buildings used in your other facilities are a perfect fit for standalone restrooms because they save money on the initial investment and on long term maintenance without sacrificing aesthetics.
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