There are many golf courses that shut down in the winter because they get snow and it’s too cold to play a round of golf. Why not turn your golf course or golf club into a year-round club. Over the past few years, we have seen a large increase in cross-country skiing, winter hiking, and fat biking as a way to up your winter golf course revenue.
A golf course is a PERFECT location to set up a cross-country track or fat biking trail. Don’t worry it will not ruin your grass as it’s all done on the snow.
Don’t shut your golf course down in the winter
We also have seen a large increase in golf courses and golf clubs reaching out to use and purchasing our compact snow groomers from us to create more activities in the winter for their members. Our golf course customers have been telling us that their members have been REALLY happy about the snow groomed trails. You already have a mapped-out trail system with your golf cart paths. You can use these cart paths for all your trails.
Below is a list of ways to continue to keep people on your course during the winter and make more money. If you are a club then this really keeps your club members happy.
Winter Golf Course Activities
- Create a cross-country ski course (skate skiing and classic skiing courses)
- Create a walking path for snowshoeing
- Rent cross-country skis
- Create a sledding hill
- Give Skiing Lessons
- Turn a pond into an ice skating rink
- Create Fat Biking
- Host cross-country racing events
- Sponsor Youth cross-country skiing
Winter golf course revenue
Doing these things helps get people to your clubhouse and they buy food and beverages. You could even cater events now that you have activities that your members come to. Literally doing the same type of things you did in the summer but based on winter sports. In the summer you might have given golf lessons so switch to ski lessons. You most likely rent golf carts. OK now rent skis, toboggans, ice skates, or sleds. I am thinking you are getting the basic idea.
You will need a new set of equipment to bring in winter golf course revenue
Just like you have to take care of your golf course in the summer you will need to take care of it in the winter. Show people where to do the different activities. Make paths just like golf cart paths. Groom your snow so it does not blow away and is nice and smooth. Set classic tracks on a beautiful path.
Snowmobile for snow grooming
A snowmobile and a snow groomer and a classic track setter are most likely the basic equipment to start your course for cross country skiing. Also, snow grooming your snow can protect the grass as a snow groomer should also compact the snow trail. There are snowmobiles like the Ski-Doo Skandic that are meant to be utility snowmobiles and really will make it easy to groom your snow.
Tracked UTV or ATV for snow grooming
You can also use a tracked UTV/ATV to tow your snow grooming equipment around your golf course. We have a Honda Pioneer with Camso tracks that tow our larger snow groomers.
It will take some thought and designing of where and how to do different activities. Many things will be obvious but things like cross country ski paths might take a few trial and error ways. You will learn to get rid of your classic tracks on hills so the cross country members can make it up the hills. The nice thing is this is not hard and you can change and make it better with the snowstorms that come.
How much snow do you need on your golf course for snow grooming?
Typically you need to have at least a foot of packed snow. You can get away with less snow because generally golf course cart paths don’t have hidden rocks or stumps under the snow. You can pack down 6 inches of snow giving you a base to start with. Let that freeze up and you have a nice flat snow surface to work off the entire year.
You will want to snow groom your trail or path as much as possible. Especially when you get fresh snow.
Golf Courses that are making Cross-Country Skiing Trails in the Winter
Jeremy Ranch in Park City has a beautiful place to golf and to ski. They take great advantage of their surroundings. You can check it out on their website.
Hyland’s golf course in Ottawa has a ton of things to do in the winter. Check out all the cool things here.
Muskoka Bay has some cool tobogganing. Hey if you have the hills use them. Snow Groomed hills can make so much better, Its also safer.
Rick Milks has made classic ski trails on this beautiful golf course and they are skate skiing. Check out the pictures of how his ski trails look. This also shows the equipment (SNO-MASTER 48) he uses to make his trails.
Quote from Rick ” Sno – Groomer has been working well and appreciated by our members”
Traverse City does things right with giving their members the following.
- Miles of 7 foot wide, regularly groomed trails
- 1.6 mile trail for snowshoeing and skate skiing
- 2 mile trail for cross-country skiing
- Sledding hill adjacent to the clubhouse
Got to love Winter in Northern Michigan.
University Ridge in Wisconsin has awesome cross-country skiing. Rather than talk about it I show the courses you can ski. This is how to take advantage of your golf course in the winter.
Wisp resort in McHenry has all the skiing you want. Downhill skiing included. And if you love to tube they have that too. But they keep it all in the family with a beautiful golf course in the summer.
All these clubs or courses have taken advantage of the beautiful places they run and give their members wintertime fun. It even makes new members as some people just love the snow. Truly using your assets can bring in revenue in the winter.