Golf's a business, not matter if its a private equity club, private non-equity club, privately owned public course or publically owned public course. Revenue needs to offset expenses, maintenance & capital expenses or the product delivered to the end user suffers, which results in the death spiral of losing members/play & raising rates to offset to loss of play.
Revenue at any course is multi- pronged:
1. Greens fees/dues
2. Carts
3. F&B Income
4. Merchandise sales
Exenses are:
1. Course Maintenance costs (What is costs to keep the grass green)
2. Employee Costs - all epmoyees in all departments
3. Cost of Goods Sold (F&B, Merchandise, etc)
4. Fixed Costs - real estate taxes, irrigation, sewer fees, utilities (gas, electric, CATV, etc)
5. CapEx - annual improvements (fix bunkers, top dress tees etc)
At private equity clubs renevenue = expenses - no assessment at years end to plug the shortfall
At publically owned public courses, many times a revenue shortfall can be covered as the golf course is operated by Parks & Recreation who can shift costs like employees into the overall larger Departmental budget and show the facility is opertaing at a break even or is revenue positive.
At private non-equity or privaley owned publics; ownership won't for long dip into their pocket to subsidize an annual operating defecit so revenue needs to be increased, expenses cut or a combination of the two.
Hand pull trollies cost little to lease & maintain. If somwonw wants to walk and pull a trolley, charge them a few dollars or quid to offset the lease cost. If they want to walk and carry, no charge. Electric trollies are great, charge a few more dollars for use as they need to be charged & maintained - there is an associated cost.
Cart fees are a large revenue stream - here most folks are lazy and like to ride.
Just my $0.02 as this is an ongoing debate in the business of golf.