HENDERSON, Ky. — Rising fertilizer prices tied to global supply disruptions are forcing even small golf courses to adapt their maintenance practices while working to shield customers from steep greens fee increases.
What You Need To Know
Bent Creek Golf Course is shifting to a more cost-effective fertilizer to keep greens fees lower
The course expects fertilizer spending to rise from about $20,000 to roughly $30,000 this year
To offset costs, the course has added revenue streams like karaoke nights, simulators and mechanical bull rides events
A Kentucky Farm Bureau survey found nearly three-quarters of the state’s farmers said they cannot afford all the fertilizer they need this season
Todd Norman, general manager and superintendent at Bent Creek Golf Course in Henderson, said the facility has shifted toward more liquid foliar fertilizer applications to control costs on its nine-hole layout.
“In years past, we’ve always used more of the granular fertilizer. Of course, right now with everything going on with the war and all, those prices have went up because that all comes from over there around where this is going on,” Norman said. “So what we’ve done is more of a foliar feed on a liquid fertilizer because it’s more cost-effective and it’s slow-release.”
Fertilizer prices in the golf industry have jumped between 30% and 60% in a year, according to Norman. At Bent Creek Golf Course, annual spending on fertilizer has risen from about $20,000 in past years to roughly $30,000 now. The course increased greens fees by only about $2 for nine holes.
Fertilizer prices in Kentucky have seen sharp increases since February, including a 55% rise in urea prices, according to Kentucky Farm Bureau President Eddie Melton.
Nationally, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America reported average fertilizer spending of $52,358 for an 18-hole course in 2023, with budgets continuing to climb.
The course has offset some pressures by diversifying revenue with events such as karaoke nights, golf simulators, a restaurant and bar, and occasional mechanical bull setups with food trucks. Norman emphasized keeping the facility accessible as a neighborhood spot where families and beginners can play affordably.
“We want to be that quick nine. I mean, you know, you can come out here and play a nine-hole round in about an hour, and we want to be cost-effective for folks too. We want to pass on good stuff. Everything else is going up. So we want to try to keep ours as low as we can,” Norman said.
Josh Maier, a Henderson resident who plays at least once a week, said the local pricing stands out compared with nearby options.
“I would say that around here in Henderson, especially here, they are keeping costs a little low. But you go into Evansville, you go into the bigger towns and you start seeing rounds that are like $60 a round. I mean, you go down a little further south into Tennessee, the gated communities you’re paying $120 a round,” Maier said.
Maier added that affordable access helps keep the game enjoyable.
“I think all of us appreciate it. We come out here, we just want to play a little round of golf, you know, keep it a little. Keep a little fun. And we don’t want to go pay $60 for a not serious round. But we still have just as much fun here,” he said.
Norman, who has worked in the industry for 30 years, said the new owners, Val and Vicky Lint, have invested in renovations, and the community has responded positively.
“We’ve really changed a lot at Bent Creek since Val and Vicky Lint bought it. They’re great people to work for. They’ve done so many renovations inside and to the course. Everybody in the neighborhood is tickled pink,” Norman said.
The challenges mirror broader pressures on Kentucky agriculture and highlight how global events continue to ripple through local businesses and recreation. At Bent Creek, officials said the mix of cost-saving maintenance tweaks and added attractions should help sustain the course as an affordable community asset for years to come.