Being an avid golfer and in the RV resort business, I felt an article on golf and RV resorts would be appropriate. Here are my thoughts on the matter of golf courses on RV parks.
Golf Courses on RV Parks: Are They a Good Idea?
I hate to say it, but I don’t like the idea of golf courses on RV parks. The golf courses never seem to be that great and they’re always losing money. Putting a successful golf course on an RV park is like hitting a 1 iron. It can be done, but 9 out of 10 people are going fail and I don’t care how special you are.
The Problem with Golf Courses on RV Resorts
Let me tell you why this happens. RV resort golf courses are typically executive golf courses/par 3 courses and on the surface that seems to make sense. Vacationers staying in RV resorts with golf courses typically are retirees and in that case, it’s logical. But executive courses must be special in my mind or attached to a championship course to be successful commercially. From my experience with every RV Resort with a golf course, I’ve found the RV guest base is not enough to support a healthy golf course business. The average golfer is never typically excited to play a par 3 course and without this outside business, the courses struggle. The golf course then drags down the profitability of the RV resort and then you’re in a house of pain.
Designing High-End Golf Courses as the Main Attraction
How I see an RV resort golf course working is by making it high-end. Have the design of the development with the golf course in mind first. Don’t try to design an RV resort and fit in a golf course. Make the golf course the destination that every golfer could appreciate and then introduce them to all the ways vacationers can stay in an outdoor resort now.
