Business phone system for golf courses and country clubs in South Carolina
224 golf courses and country clubs operated in South Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 224CBP 2023
- Employees
- 9,937mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.1U.S. 3.0
- State rank
- 17th of 51by count
The golf course industry in South Carolina
South Carolina had 224 golf courses and country clubs in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 713910, Golf Courses and Country Clubs). They employed 9,937 people in mid-March and reported $299.8 million in annual payroll. That is the 17th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Golf courses and country clubs make up 0.18% of the 122,958 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) South Carolina has 4.1 golf courses and country clubs, 38.0% above the national rate of 3.0. The average establishment has 44.4 employees against 32.2 nationally. Payroll per employee is $30,171, 26.4% below the U.S. figure of $40,974.
| Measure | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 224 | 10,076 |
| Mid-March employees | 9,937 | 324,224 |
| Annual payroll | $299,809,000 | $13,284,791,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 44.4 | 32.2 |
| Payroll per employee | $30,171 | $40,974 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.1 | 3.0 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
South Carolina's largest markets for golf courses and country clubs
Census published golf course counts for 13 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of South Carolina. The largest is Charlotte, NC-SC, with 64 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 83% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC-SC | 64 | 3,262 | 2.2 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 41 | 1,763 | 9.9 |
| Greenville, SC | 34 | 1,594 | 3.4 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 27 | 1,763 | 11.4 |
| Augusta, GA-SC | 26 | 1,828 | 4.1 |
| Columbia, SC | 20 | 648 | 2.3 |
| Charleston, SC | 19 | 1,358 | 2.2 |
| Murrells Inlet, SC | 13 | 854 | 19.7 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 12 | 316 | 3.0 |
| Florence, SC | 7 | 139 | 3.5 |
| Seneca, SC | 5 | 194 | 6.1 |
| Sumter, SC | 4 | 50 | 3.8 |
| Greenwood, SC | 4 | 101 | 4.2 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at golf courses and country clubs in South Carolina
10.7% of South Carolina's golf courses and country clubs with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 29.7% nationally. 17.9% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 24 | 10.7% | 29.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 16 | 7.1% | 13.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 32 | 14.3% | 14.8% |
| 20–49 employees | 71 | 31.7% | 21.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 81 | 36.2% | 20.9% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for golf courses and country clubs in South Carolina
Golf courses book tee times, outings and events by phone, and the pro shop is busy at peak times. Event inquiries need fast follow-up.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for golf courses and country clubs in South Carolina:
- The course calls golfers about a weather closure.
- A member calls about lessons.
- A couple calls about a wedding at the club.
What golf courses and country clubs text about
Courses text tee-time confirmations and weather notices.
Texting from a local number in South Carolina requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 44-person golf course
Golf courses and country clubs in South Carolina average 44.4 employees, so the comparison uses a 44-person team. Priced per seat, 44 users would run $1,320.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,097.80 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $879.00 a month for 44 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $5,292 less than RingCentral for a golf course in South Carolina of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $879.00 | $10,548.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $836.00 | $10,032.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $1,012.00 | $12,144.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $1,097.80 | $13,173.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $1,188.00 | $14,256.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $1,320.00 | $15,840.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in South Carolina
South Carolina has 6 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a golf course can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 839 |
| 864 | 784 | Eastern | 1995 | 821 |
| 843 | 783 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 839 | 190 | Eastern | 2020 | 803 |
| 854 | 182 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
| 821 | 42 | Eastern | 2024 | 864 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for golf courses and country clubs in South Carolina
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in South Carolina is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many golf courses and country clubs are in South Carolina?
224 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 9,937 people in mid-March.
Which South Carolina metro area has the most golf courses and country clubs?
Charlotte, NC-SC, with 64 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 44-person golf course?
$1,320.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $1,097.80 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $879.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a South Carolina number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.