How do I find out whether a golf course’s restaurant is run by the owner or a tenant?

Start with simple questions. Whose staff work in the kitchen and dining room? Whose name is on the supplier accounts and the till? Where does the restaurant’s income appear in the course’s financial statements: as sales, or as rent? The answers usually show who is in control.

If a tenant is involved, ask for the lease or operating agreement. Look at the rent, how long the term runs, who pays for repairs and equipment, and whether the course can end the arrangement. Ask how the relationship is going, whether rent is paid on time, and what the tenant plans to do next.

If the course runs it, the restaurant is part of the operation you would inherit, with staff and stock. Either way, check how it fits golfers, event guests and the public. Your lawyer can read the agreements and your accountant can show you how each setup appears in the numbers. Ask also about the bar and beverage cart, which are sometimes handled separately from the dining room. They can be run by a different party under a different arrangement, so ask about each service.

Key takeaways

• Check who employs the staff and whose name is on supplier accounts.
• See whether income appears as sales or as rent in the statements.
• Read any tenant agreement for term, rent and exit rights.
• Check the bar and beverage cart separately from the dining room.