Insurance for Golf Courses in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Beyond

 

Local Insurance for Your Golf Course or Country Club  

If you own a golf course, the chances are that it is more than just a business for you- it’s the connections you have made over the years, and the joy you find in the game. Knowing that your business has appropriate insurance coverage means that when the unexpected happens, you potentially have one less thing to worry about. Whether you are thinking of buying a golf course, or you need to shop for new policies, we can provide your business with options. With offices in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and Florida, finding a local office may be easier than you think.

How Much is Insurance for a Golf Course?  

Budgeting your business operations for your golf course means that you will need to know how much you will be paying for premiums. When you reach out to us, we can gather more information on the types of policies and coverages you are looking for, so we can provide you with quotes. We understand that no two golf courses operate the same, which is why we will work with you to help you identify what types of policies you may need. Factors that can influence the cost of golf course insurance include, but are not limited to:

• The size of your course
• Number of employees you have
• The location of your business
• Claims history
• Whether or not your business serves alcohol

Property Insurance for Golf Courses and Country Clubs 

When it comes to common coverages for country clubs or golf courses, property insurance is something business owners should consider essential. Some carriers will refer to this coverage as golf course grounds or tee-to-green insurance coverage. When you think of property insurance, your buildings such as your clubhouse and fitness centers may come to mind, but it can also cover your sprinkler systems, fairways, and your landscaping like tress and shrubs. Depending on what your property includes, additional coverages may be purchased to cover things like statues and retaining walls.

Cyber Coverages for Golf Courses

Like with all industries, technology continues to grow its footprint in the golf course business, making cyber insurance another option to weigh in your businesses’ risk mitigation plan. Golf courses are moving to use more online tools for things like booking tee times, and some may even be creating their own apps. Think of all the ways your business uses technology- your pro shop and any onsite restaurants likely use POS systems. If your golf course handles credit card numbers or stores confidential customer information, shopping for cyber policies is a smart idea.

Herbicide, Pesticide, and Pollution Liability 

If your golf course stores substances in tanks underground such as fuel, pollution liability insurance may be a requirement for your business. Check with local ordinances to see if your storage tanks require pollution liability. In addition to underground storage tanks, other sources of pollution concern for golf courses include stormwater runoff from irrigation, pesticides, and fertilizers. Although changes have been made over the years when it comes to pesticides, the risk for contaminating groundwater still exists. If your golf course uses pesticides and fertilizer to maintain your grounds, you should look at herbicide and pesticide insurance. If you have a Business Owner’s Policy in place, check if there are exclusions for property damage due to toxic chemical release.         

Inland Marine Coverages for Golf Courses and Country Clubs  

As a business owner, you want to give your clients the best possible experience. This could include providing services such as guest lockers, or valet parking. To help protect the property that is left in the care of your business, you should consider an inland marine policy. This policy may also offer protection for your golf carts, mowers, and sweepers if they are not covered by your property insurance.  

Other Coverages for Golf Courses 

If you have employees, Workers’ Comp coverage may be a requirement for your business. Other coverages that your golf course should consider are general liability, and liquor liability if you serve alcohol at your club or course. Liquor liability commonly covers certain categories of damages caused by an intoxicated guest after they have been served alcohol.

Golf Course Safety 

As a golf course owner, there are a number of things that you can do to help keep your staff and guests safe. Some of these include, but are not limited to:

• Installing fire safety equipment 
• Establishing a Golf Cart Safety Program 
• Develop a Lightning Safety plan for thunderstorms 
• Training grounds crew and other employees to use personal protective equipment when maintaining grounds 

Requesting Quotes for Your Golf Course or Country Club  

To request a quote for your golf course, you can submit our form here. Cross Insurance currently has offices in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Florida. If you prefer to call someone to start the quoting process, you can see a list of our offices and contact numbers here.

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.