golf construction cost USA vs. Europe

[Patrice Boissonnas]

For those of you with golf construction experience on both sides of the Atlantic ocean, have you noticed significant cost differences from one continent to another?
I have always had the feeling that building (and maintening) a golf course was much more expensive in the US.
Do you confirm? If yes, what are the differences based on?
Americans are used to higher quality standards which, inevitably have a price. Higher specs = more cost.
But is that all?
How much would be a full size irrigation system for 18 holes in America?
Is drainage more expensive? sand supply? turfgrass?
Could cost differences be due to different building practices? regulations?
Any feedback welcome...

[Tom_Doak]

Patrice:


It depends on the site and the nature of the project, of course.  However in general, I think American developers are used to spending more money on new courses.  $2 million irrigation systems are now the standard in those areas requiring irrigation at the margins of the course; wall-to-wall cart paths and extensive drainage systems are more common as well.  However, at the other end of the scale, Dismal River didn't cost any more to build than Barnbougle, and much less than St. Emilion, thanks to the difference in soils.

[Thomas Dai]

Apologies if slightly OT, but out of interest on which side of the 3,000 mile pond is legislation, permitting, rules and regs etc more or less arduous when it comes to new builds/renovations?
Atb

[Jon Wiggett]

Apologies if slightly OT, but out of interest on which side of the 3,000 mile pond is legislation, permitting, rules and regs etc more or less arduous when it comes to new builds/renovations?
Atb

Thomas,

most definitely on the European side or at least when you are trying to build in Switzerland.

Jon