golfmak 2010

 

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kahn 12 2010

ABOUT MIKE KAHN

KAHN'S GOLF BUSINESS BLOG

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My Email: mike@golfmak.com

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Fixer-Uppers Could be Good Now

The Growing Private Club Dilemma!

MARKETING: Cheap prices as a means to compete is not always the answer

2008-9: Is this the Best Time Ever to Buy a Golf Course?

golf ball

It was the Ball! What I think you should know.

What Not to Do as a First-Time Golf Course Buyer

The Future of the Golf Business as I see it.

Golf Course Buyer's Guide

Financing a golf course

Finance to Buy, or Refinance a Golf

Course. Start the Process Here

You'll think I'm NUTS saying we need 1,000 more golf courses - until you read this

A Golf Course Buyers Formula

Getting a Golf Course Loan.

Avoid Mistakes that Scare Lenders Away!

Golf Business Experience. Mike Kahn's 50-Years.

Marketing a Golf Course: Simple Rules

Golf Business Consultation. Your first one is Free.

Golf Business Consulting. What Will it Cost?

The Truth About the Golf Business Today.

The Golf Course Superintendent? Do You Need One?

Golf Course Feasibility. Have You Updated Yours?

Buying Default Golf Courses Can be Lucrative for Tax Purposes

Golf Participation Statistics

A Golf Expert's Advice to Bankers

Golf Investors FAQ Sheet

Golf Course Financing. Where to look.

New Golf Courses. Your Players!

Golf Course Analysis

How to Create a French Drain

Golf Business FAQ Sheet

Golf Participation Statistic

Do you need a Superintendent?

Golf Operators. Watch Your DSR

How Banks Run Golf Courses. Have a look...

Tough Times for the Golf Business?

Golf Course Operator's Axioms

Golf's REITS and Trusts Distorting Factors

The Financial Downfall of Many Golf Courses -The "Big-Foot" Clubhouse?

The truth about the golf business.

Planning a Career in Golf?

Enjoy this editorial. "It was the Golf Ball!"

Kahn's Golf Biz Axioms

About Your Free Golf Business Consultation

Great Golf Web Site!

Members. Keep them Happy and Spending

Message to Bankers

Golf Course Management Companies: An Opinion 

Best information: The National Golf Foundation

About a Golf Course Analysis

GOLFMAK, INC.

Email: mike@golfmak.com

Phone: 941.739.3990

Fax: 425.675.6909

BRADENTON, FL

Michael A Kahn, Golf Business Consultant. From Grass to Finance. Over 50-Years at Your Service. Email: mike@golfmak.com

LET'S START GROWING THE GAME AGAIN - Like we did 50-years ago!

 

2012 - THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BUY A GOLF COURSE.

Mike Kahn, Golfmak, Inc., Email: mike@golfmak.com, Golf Course Consultant, Real Estate Sales Associate, Director Golf Course Division, Prime Sites USA, LLC, Clearwater, Florida.

We have a golf course available for under $1 million that could not be replaced for $4 million. Have a look: Ironwood

A $2 million dollar Illinois golf course for $475,000 for one of our buyers! It was making money.

The golf business depression (2001 through 2005) may be near its end:

    1. Growth in Rounds - Stable
    2. Growth in Revenues - Recovering in some areas
    3. Golf Course Prices - Some showing stability. Others beginning to rise.
    4. Interest Rates - Not bad right now (2006)
    5. Planned New Golf Courses - Down- Maybe the first decline in golf courses since WWII. Good news for the survivors!

In my 53-years in golf I've never experienced a time when one could buy a golf course for less than half of what it costs to create. In fact, today you can buy a fully equipped, full length championship golf course with what was the down payment ten years ago. And debt service is not the burden it was in the 90's.

Golf is still in a temporary crunch, but therein we see the opportunity! You're buying golf courses at ½-price or even less - courses that *should enjoy exceptional cash flow and capital appreciation over the coming years. Today's buyer needs to be careful not to allow trivial issues to obscure the big picture - long term capital opportunities. However, it might require a little 'patience and TLC' in the short term.

(*should: Meaning golf courses with competent management)

Hey! It's better to buy a golf course now at ½ price and wait it out, than pay two or three times the price five years from now - likely with interest back at 10%. I believe a few years of hard work will pay off handsomely.

AN OWNER-OPERATOR CAN LIKELY MAKE A DECENT LIVING - EVEN FROM A GOLF COURSE APPARENTLY NOT SHOWING EARNINGS.

If you buy a golf course as an on-site owner-operator I believe you can make a decent living for you and your family with a reasonable work ethic - even if the course you buy is not currently indicating earnings. That's because you will replace and recover 'fat' (management fees, corporate overhead, salaries, and benefits) directly to you, and there may be more. In my experience, an on site owner-operator is worth at least 20% 'found money' just for being there. In fact, that's the pleasant surprise many first time golf course owner-operators experience.

With hundreds of courses available, let us help you acquire a suitable golf course. Outline the course type, geographic location, price range, and time frame you have in mind by email to: mike@golfmak.com. Let us know what cash you have available, which helps establish financing needs. It is important to include your business and/or golf business background if you plan to seek financing. Be sure to review our tips and pointers about buying, financing and owning golf courses (go back to the opening page for links).

 

EXPERIENCE (going back to 1956)

I have successfully managed: Private, Semi-Private, Public, Par-3, Executive Courses, and Lighted Practice Ranges.

Former Licensed Superintendent for Weedicides, Herbicides, Aquatic Weedicides, and Acquatic Herbicides

Finance Consultant: Placed over $100 million in golf course financing.

Former PGA Assistant Pro includiing the art of old-time backshop club repair (old fashioned methods),

Teaching professional Private and Group teaching for over 30-years

Former Golf Course Owner

Off-course retail store chain owner

Golf Course Broker - Over $100 millin in golf courses sold

Web site planning and publishing

Golf Course Turnaround Specialist

Clubhouse Design and Planning Consultant

Golf Course Buyer's Diligence Specialist

Golf Business Consultant

REVIEWED HUNDREDS OF GOLF COURSES

Ontario

Montana

Conecticutt

New York

Michigan

Ohio

Illinois

North Carolina

South Carolina

Georgia

Florida

Alabama

Louisiana

Texas

Caloifornia

Colorado

Kentucky

Tennessee

Minnesota

Isle of Wight (UK)

A PIONEER

Solid Range Balls

Tri-Plex Greens Mowers

Hydraulic Drive Reels

Cavity Back Golf Clubs

Private Brand Golf Clubs

Internet Tee Times Sales

Flymo (floating rotary mower)

Graphite Shafts

Indoor Golf Schools

Female Greens Employees

Non-Chemical Release Golf Course Fertilizers

Floodlit Night Golf

Video Tape Golf Teaching

Tee-Time Re-Selling

Golf Course Web Sites

100% Wall-to-wall bentgrass fairways

Using 3-wheel Motor Bikes as Work and Personnel Carriers (now trap rake vehicles)

Copywriting and Marketing Golf Courses on Radio, TV, Newspaper, and Billboards

Financial Statements for a Golf Course on Computer (Lotus 123)

Point-of-Sale Systems for Golf Courses