COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 71391

Golf Courses and Country Clubs

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

11companies1873–1994founding years11still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedKohler Company
1873
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedThe Professional Golfers' Association of America
1916
FoundedMadden's on Gull Lake
1934
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedBoyne USA Resorts
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedClubCorp, Inc.
1957
FoundedSime Darby Berhad
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedAmerican Golf CorporationFoundedNicklaus Companies
1970
FoundedThe Trump Organization
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedMashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise Inc.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedFamily Golf Centers, Inc.
1994
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Kohler Company →
Active · founded 1873
Kohler Company is one of the largest privately operated firms in the United States.
The Professional Golfers' Association of America →
Active · founded 1916
The Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) of America is an organization that trains, certifies, and advocates for…
Madden's on Gull Lake →
Active · founded 1934
Minnesota-based Madden's on Gull Lake is a premier family and golf resort that has served guests for over 60 years and…
Boyne USA Resorts →
Active · founded 1947
Boyne USA Resorts is one of the leading operators of ski and golf resorts in North America.
ClubCorp, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
ClubCorp, Inc.
Sime Darby Berhad →
Active · founded 1958 · Malaysia
Sime Darby Berhad is the largest conglomerate in Malaysia and one of the largest in southeast Asia.
American Golf Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
American Golf Corporation is the world's largest golf course management company.
Nicklaus Companies →
Active · founded 1970
Nicklaus Companies is a conglomerate of golf-related businesses run and owned by golfer Jack Nicklaus and his family.
The Trump Organization →
Active · founded 1974
The Trump Organization presides over the assets of the Trump family and serves as the umbrella for the many business…
Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise Inc.
Family Golf Centers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
Only six years after its founding in 1992, Family Golf Centers, Inc.
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