Types of golf courses by property

One of the things that a newcomer to the world of golf would probably like to know is what the difference is between the different types of golf courses. This question is more complicated than you might imagine, as there are actually three different ways to express which category a particular golf course fits into.

The first is to set and categorize a field as it is set to heathland, forest, or by the ocean, etc. The second type is duration, where the course is essentially rated by the time it takes to play a round, so these types will be pitch & putt, long duration, or executives, so called because executives may not have time to play a round round in a complete course of 18 holes. Most executive courses are only 9 holes.

However, in this article we are going to see how golf courses can be classified by property. The two types of categorization above let you know what to expect when you show up to play. However, this third type of categorization determines whether or not you will be allowed to access the course.

The following is not an exhaustive list of course types, but these are the most popular course types you may find.

Private golf courses are courses that are owned by a golf club and only allow members of the club to play. If you’re not a member of the club, you can’t play, unless of course you’re lucky enough to be invited to play by someone who’s already a member.

Public golf courses may be courses owned by private individuals or organizations or by other organizations, such as local businesses. The key here is that the owner charges a fee to play. Essentially, this means that the course is open for anyone who can pay the fee to play.

There are also courses that are essentially a combination of the above two. Club members can play at any time. The public can play, but usually only on specific days of the week or times of the day.

Municipal golf courses are owned by the local government. They function as public golf courses, but the money paid for green fees goes to them and not to a private individual or company.

Some residential areas have their own golf course that is designed to be played by local residents only. They tend to be run by the community itself and as such are not open to the public.

Finally there is the resort golf course. Resort golf courses are owned and operated by a vacation resort or hotel chain for the pleasure of their guests. However, gambling may not be restricted to resort guests, so some resort courses may be open to the public for a fee.