Golfonomics: Economics of Golf Course Management & Pro Golf | World Scientific

Golfonomics: where golf and economics meet

World Scientific Publishing Company presents Golfonomics, a rigorous yet accessible investigation by Stephen Shmanske that blends two passions—golf and economics—into one cohesive narrative. The book examines how economic forces shape the business side of golf and how on-course performance data can illuminate enduring questions in economics. Organized around two settings—golf course management and professional golf—it invites readers to consider value, efficiency, and incentives through a practical lens.

Two complementary perspectives

The core idea is simple: economic decisions influence golf operations, while performance metrics can reveal how incentives steer behavior. By linking institutional choices with measurable outcomes, Golfonomics offers readers a framework for understanding trade-offs that matter to clubs, players, and policy discussions. The tone stays focused on possibilities rather than certainties, inviting readers to imagine how informed decisions might unfold in the real world.

Golf course management: where costs meet operations

On the ground, decisions about fleets, facilities, and service levels interact with market realities. The book highlights how everyday choices—such as golf cart usage, maintenance scheduling, and staffing—shape both costs and guest experience. Slow play, a familiar challenge for courses, is explored as a factor that can influence capacity, throughput, and perceived value.

• Cart usage patterns and fleet optimization
• Maintenance scheduling and cost-efficiency
• Slow play and its effect on pace, capacity, and demand

Professional golf: performance, earnings, and policy questions

In professional golf, the narrative traces a path from practice to skill to earnings, while examining how tournament payouts are structured. The book also examines gender dynamics in earnings and opportunities, offering a data-informed view of where gaps may arise and how policy discussions could address them.

• From practice to skill to earnings: a causal perspective
• Tournament compensation models and incentives
• Measuring gender dynamics in earnings and opportunities

What you will gain

Readers will encounter real-world scenarios that translate data into actionable insights for budgeting, strategy, and policy considerations. While Golfonomics does not promise fixed outcomes, it presents credible possibilities for improving decision-making within golf-focused organizations. The approach is evidence-based, practical, and suitable for researchers, managers, and engaged fans who want to understand the business and performance dimensions of golf.