Think about owning a golf course. We compete against courses who are not-for-profit. Basically, most private clubs are not for profit. They collect just enough in dues to cover everything the members want. A little money left over, maybe a new mower or remodel the bathroom. Then there are city or county government courses. They don’t need to make a profit either. They don’t pay property taxes, and their ethos is to simply break even. Fees are low because they can be low. Sometimes so low they lose money. No problem. Taxpayers can subsidize the shortfall. Then there are tax-advantaged golf courses owned by large entities. A little loss for them helps offset the gains of their main business. We also have a tribal owned course in the area. No federal taxes, no state taxes, no property taxes and offsets from the craps tables can really help the bottom line.
Then there’s me. I have no angle. I 100% must make a profit or nothing happens. Let’s be real, without profit, nothing even stays the same. I am not subsidized by taxpayers. I don’t have a mega corporation to offset my losses. I have no exemptions. Name another industry, where your competitors can profit so much easier or not profit at all, and yet you compete. Things you never think about. It’s why you always must be careful when comparing golf courses. It’s not a fair fight.
