Golf Course Insurance
Golf Course Insurance & Risk Management
Protecting Golf Courses Since 1854
Gilbert’s Risk Solutions has been in business since golf was still a niche pastime in Great Britain and years before it became popular in the U.S. during the Roaring Twenties. As the sport grew, so did our expertise in insuring it.
Today, Pennsylvania has more than 800 golf courses, including Buhl Farm Golf Course — better known as “Dum-Dums” — in our hometown of Sharon, the nation’s only free golf course. Gilbert’s Risk Solutions has been insuring golf courses since the early days of the sport.
As golf courses have grown more sophisticated over the years, we’ve been there to manage the growing exposures and insure the risks. Golfing facilities are a complex environment, with risks encompassing the course itself, restaurant and food facilities, retail shops, special events, and outdoor workers.
Unique Risks for Golf Course Operations
The nature of the sport means guests are exposed to flying objects, golf carts, outdoor terrain, weather, and occasionally wildlife — creating a distinct mix of premises liability, equipment and turf loss, liquor liability, cart liability, and weather-related property damage risks.
While we’re proud to call Pennsylvania our home, we’ve helped businesses all across the country manage their risk, and we look forward to helping you too, no matter where you call home.
Private Clubs vs. Public Courses
- Private clubs often carry additional exposures like membership disputes, special events, and higher-end amenities requiring broader property and liability coverage.
- Public courses typically see higher guest volume and turnover, which can increase premises liability exposure — we tailor coverage to match your facility’s specific operating model.
Golf Course Insurance Coverage
Whether your facility is a small, family-owned golf course or a large operation with many employees, we can help you find the right coverage for your unique needs. We work with more than 100 premier insurance companies — and more than that, we work with you to manage your risk, reduce your losses, and protect your business. Discover why so many of your neighbors have trusted us for more than seven generations.
Common Golf Course Insurance Coverages:
- Commercial General Liability
- Commercial Property
- Commercial Auto
- Inland Marine
- Directors & Officers Liability
- Business Interruption
- Umbrella/Excess
- Personal Injury Liability
- Workers’ Compensation
- Employment Practices Liability
- Golf Cart Insurance
- Pollution Liability (Herbicide/Pesticide)
- Liquor Liability
- Special Events Coverage
Other Services: Surety Bonds, Employee Benefits, HRIS Gilbert Portal, HR and Compliance, Loss Control
Working with Trusted Golf Course Insurance Companies
We partner with more than 100 premier golf course insurance companies, giving you access to specialized carriers who understand the unique risks of running a golf facility — not a one-size-fits-all policy.
Our Goal Is to Be Your Outsourced Risk Management Partner
Sporting operations that welcome the general public carry real exposure — a stray shot, a golf cart mishap, a slip near the clubhouse bar. No matter how many precautions you take, the right coverage protects your course, your staff, and your guests when something goes wrong.
Tailored Solutions
When it comes to your insurance coverage, we don’t take a cookie-cutter approach. While there are basics that should be covered — property, liability, and workers’ compensation, for example — many specialized coverages may be important depending on the size and nature of your operations. As part of our risk assessment, we’ll advise you of any exposures that warrant supplemental coverage.
360 Degree Approach
We take a 360-degree view of your golf course operations to ensure all aspects of your business are secure. Our team of experts in Loss Control, Employee Benefits, HR, and Surety Bonds are all available to our commercial clients, ensuring a multi-pronged approach to risk mitigation.
Our RISK SHIELD® Process
Insurance is only one piece of protecting your business — managing your risk matters just as much. Our proprietary RISK SHIELD® Process identifies your facility’s unique exposures and puts a loss control plan in place. Often the solution is an insurance product, but frequently it’s a recommendation for a process, staff training, or measure that reduces an exposure.
CONSULT
DESIGN
BUILDING
MAINTAIN
Golf Course Insurance FAQs
Golf courses typically need general liability for guest injuries, liquor liability if alcohol is served, and specialized coverage for golf cart operation and course-related incidents.
Standard general liability often doesn't fully cover golf cart-related incidents, which is why dedicated golf cart insurance is typically recommended as a supplemental coverage.
Liquor liability is usually a separate policy or endorsement, required if your course serves alcohol at the clubhouse, restaurant, or special events.
Coverage is based on factors like course acreage, buildings, equipment, and the replacement cost of structures like clubhouses and maintenance facilities.
