However, golf course development as part of a resort package and/or to fill a local market demand can have many non-gaming related benefits. From a resort development standpoint, a golf course as well as other recreational elements can add to the facility's competitive positioning, to the point where its development/operating costs can be recaptured through higher room rates/green fees. Many traditional golf courses also "pencil-out" when incorporating fairway home sites, which have a particularly higher value than non-golf course sites. Given the trust status of Indian lands, this may be somewhat problematical on reservation lands, unless some sort of long term land leases could be negotiated for the home owners.
