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(843) 238-5141
Mon–Thur 8:30AM–5:30PM | Fri 8:30AM–2PM
Make a Payment

Golf Industry Law

Golf Industry Law

Golf Industry Law

The Floyd Law Firm has over 51 years of experience serving the golf industry. We consult, advise, and represent – golf course owners, golf club owners, developers, lessors, club professionals, general managers, bank directors, and investors – about the many legal issues that surround the ownership, management, purchase, sale, lease, operation, construction, and development of golf facilities. Our attorneys and staff work to provide an integrated and coordinated approach to golf industry legal issues, and we help our clients successfully achieve their business goals.

Golf industry legal and financial issues can be managed at The Floyd Law Firm

When the legal field touches the golf greens, the majority of law firms lack the foresight and the oversight when it comes to to advising everyone involved in the golf industry. From course owners, board members, lenders, municipalities, and golf professionals – our firm seeks to balance the technical details with a common sense approach to problems facing the golfing business. We seek proactive solutions which are suited to the needs of our golf clients to maintain reasonable costs while providing workable results.

Our firm has the knowledge to help guide you through any legal problems affecting the golf industry, including:

  • Acquisitions
  • Land Acquisition at Site Approval
  • Resort Development
  • Land Use and Zoning
  • Risk Management Analysis
  • Management Transactions
  • Financing
  • Operations
  • Permitting and Licensing
  • Membership Programs
  • Choice of Business Entities
  • Due Diligence Review
  • Golf Course Liability Issues
  • Litigation
  • Turnover of Assets
  • Contract Preparation
  • Negotiations
  • Shareholder Agreements
  • Operating Agreements
  • Lease Proposals and Options
  • Purchase and Sales Contracts
  • Employee Agreements
  • By-Laws and Restrictive Covenants
  • Planned Communities Development

Secure the financing you need for your Golf Course

The ability to finance the purchase or lease of your golf facility is crucial to your success. Whether it is structuring a joint venture with a real estate developer, choosing investors, structuring owner financing, or borrowing funds from a traditional lender or a specialized lender – the issue of funding becomes a critical problem that has to be solved. Our law firm knows how to avoid the pitfalls that await the average golf entrepreneur, and we work with lenders and other owners to assist you with obtaining the proper financing for your facility.

We offer the legal help necessary for the purchase of your Golf Course

The acquisition of a golf facility, or funding an expansion of an existing golf facility, requires the purchaser to consider multiple legal issues. Details such as: pricing the business, investor considerations, establishing an exit strategy, setting goals and limits for the purchase or lease, feasibility analysis, preparation of a letter of intent, purchase agreements, purchase options, due diligence examination, structuring the purchase, the structure of a lease – all requires the help and assistance of an expert from the beginning to the end. We are legal experts here to help you successfully purchase your golf venture.

Turn to The Floyd Law Firm when you wish to lease your Golf Course

The many advantages of leasing a golf facility make it an attractive alternative to simply selling your golf course. Leasing allows you, as an owner, to shift the day-to-day management responsibilities to the Lessee while you receive a fixed income. This creates an opportunity for potentially greater returns on your investment while still maintaining control of the property. The Floyd Law Firm has the capabilities of assisting both Lessors and Lessees in the structuring, negotiation, and the preparation of comprehensive lease agreements.

Get professional legal advice when choosing the proper business entity

The complex world of increasing liability for owners and operators of golf facilities – coupled with rising business taxes – makes entering the golf industry a risky venture for many. The Floyd Law Firm advises prospective and present golf facility owners on the proper choice of business entity to meet the needs of the proprietor or operator. Factors that influence important decisions are limited liability, investor requirements, amount of autonomy needed by the owners, style of management, tax status, fringe benefits, and allocation of profits.

Business entities include:

  • Limited or General Partnerships
  • Sole Proprietorship
  • Limited Liability Company
  • Small Business Corporation (S-Corporation)
  • C Corporation

Risk management is important for golf businesses to aid in preventing lawsuits

Owners of golf facilities can often find themselves having to be defendants due to someone being injured on or around their golf courses. The Floyd Law Firm PC recommends the procedures and management programs to aid in the prevention and control of your exposure to loss via effective risk management.

Areas of potential loss include:

  • Errant Golf Ball Liability
  • Workers' Compensation Claims
  • Negligent Design
  • Dram-shop / Alcohol Liability
  • Anti-discrimination Legislation
  • ADA Claims
  • Lightning Liability
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Wrongful Termination
  • Libel and Slander
  • Premises Liability

Entering and negotiating golf industry contracts takes a skilled legal team

The average golf facility will enter into thousands of contracts in the course of doing business over time. The Floyd Law Firm assists golf course owners and operators in drafting and entering into prudent contracts.

Golf business contracts can include:

  • Leases of Golf Carts
  • Advertisement Contracts
  • Fertilizer and Chemical Agreements
  • Golf Shop Inventory, Stock, and Merchandise
  • Business Office Equipment Contracts
  • Special Independent Contractor Agreements
  • Golf Cart Initial Fee Contracts
  • Events Contracts
  • Employment Contracts

Properly structured agreements between golf facilities and employees is important

Nothing can disrupt a business quicker than poor employer-employee relations. Our firm advises employers on the most effective method of structuring employment contracts to protect the employer and establish the framework for a proper employer-employee relationship.

Employee agreements to be considered include the following:

  • Compensation
  • Buy-Out Clauses
  • Mediation and Arbitration
  • Disability
  • Terms of Contracts
  • Duties and Responsibilities
  • Termination and Default Concession Activities
  • Periodic Reviews
  • Employee Code of Conduct Agreements

Maintain mutually beneficial relationships between golf course property owners and property owners associations

Whether your golf facility is in a metropolitan area, a small town, a resort area, or a retirement community – the relationship between the golf facility, its ownership and management, and the property owners is critical to the success of the facility. An adversarial relationship between the club and the members of the Property Owner’s Association can be detrimental to the viability of your business.

The Floyd Law Firm can assist you in preventing such problems, and we can help you negotiate any disagreements as they arise. Our firm has the experience and specialized knowledge in golf business law, association laws, and the legalities of real estate development – all of which are vital when seeking the proper resolution to any situation.

Our Golf Industry Clients include:

  • Deane Beamanformer Commissioner of the PGA Tour
  • Gary L. Schaalformer President of the PGA
  • Will Mann former President of the PGA
  • TSC Golf, Inc.
  • Signature Golf, LLC

The founder of The Floyd Law Form PC, as well as the President of Golf Rx Associates, Inc., Dalton B. Floyd, Jr. has actively practiced law for over 48 years. In addition to organizing three financial institutions, and actively advising clients in construction, purchase, development, sales, and the leasing of golf facilities, he has been the attorney for the Carolina’s Section of the Professional Golf Association for over 15 years. Mr. Floyd has been an instructor for the Education Department of the PGA and The National Golf Course Superintendents Association. Dalton is also a frequent speaker on a variety of cutting-edge golf industry topics.

Active in all legal areas that affect golf courses, Dalton is highly experienced in representing clients in developing golf facilities as well as residential and commercial developments. He has represented Plaintiffs and Defendants in an active Trial and Appellate practice, and his skills in litigation have proven to be a valuable asset in his representation of clients on golf financing, contract negotiation, and business issues.

Golf Industry Law Attorneys serving Surfside Beach, Myrtle Beach and throughout South Carolina

The Floyd Law Firm PC helps even novice golf entrepreneurs navigate the golf industry from purchasing, financing, leasing, employee management, to legal liabilities. Whether you are a golf course owner or a golfing professional – our firm will consult, advise, and represent you when needed. Our attorneys and staff are well-versed on the many legal issues that anyone in the golf business world may face at any time. We’ll keep you on the green and under par.

Request a Consultation with us!