Private Club Memberships

[ibigler]

I played a tournament at Brown Deer a few years ago... Its a sick course, I'd love to play there again

[vmsea]

  ibigler said:

you have to provide proof that you make at least $200,000 a year

So if you're like Steve Jobs, who makes $1 per year in salary, they'll shut you down? harsh. :)

Seriously though, I looked into a couple in the seattle area, and they're around $4-600 per month, with $10K initation fees

[ajschn06]

  ibigler said:

I was just wondering what you guys pay for your golf memberships or what they cost if you dont belong to any...

Why would you want to play with a bunch of stuck up pricks like that anyways?

[Kieran123]

Personally don;t see a point in membership. I hate to play the same course too much, so it would be a waste of money for me.

[WhiteMF]

They have a great deal down here in VA. 164 a month and you get to play 5 courses as much as you like any day of the week. No pool or tennis but if you just want to play golf it works out great. You also get unlimited range balls so you can practice as much as you can stand.

I joined at the end of last year and it has helped my game out a lot.

[jldavis73]

$750/year buys you a state park pass in Kentucky, you play ANY state course for cart fee. There are 2 or 3 Trail courses in the top 10 in Kentucky. I've played Valhalla, the #1 rated course, and I seriously would rate 4 of the state courses very closely to it.

[DocWu1948]

  ajschn06 said:

Why would you want to play with a bunch of stuck up pricks like that anyways?

It's not about the golf. It's IPO's and Mergers. Federal and local judicial appointments. Ambassador postings. Get to see Elton John for free. :)

Me, I have a no-cost membership in the old coots club, and it lets me play for 25-30 bucks a round on weekdays at most of the local courses. .

[WUTiger]

In St. Louis area, we have several high-end clubs that still have a waiting list despite the recession. They have $100K+ initiation fees just to join, and hefty monthly fees also.

Also, there are some more family-oriented private country clubs that have $5K to $20K initiation fees to join, and several hundred a month dues.

In my area, there's one such club that charged about $5K initiation fee at one time; this has been falling due to recession. Still, it costs about $600 a month for this and that, and they charge extra for riding carts. Also has swimming pool, tennis courts, and dining room (which does pretty well).

The semi-private clubs are quite interesting. Some have a standing membership - private-club style with equity - along with annual fee people. Annual fee is about $2,600 for a single person, and $3,300 for a family. This includes about everything except special events and food.

Also, ousiders can pay $40-$60 for leftover tee times and play.

As far as private country club economics goes, the fancy dining room can be a money pit. Unless you have a lot of traffic on a regular basis, you'll lose several hundred thousand dollars a year on it. Also, if the members see themselves as really exclusive and special, they may not support outside events such as weddings, evening large-group events, and golf tournaments. These outside events can bring the club big $$ each year, as long as the members support it.

Another thing about outside events: If you're losing members, you get the extra $$$ plus a chance to show off your club to potential members. But if your club has the wrong demographic mix, the self-styled bluebloods will try to get the manager fired for this.

[mattttt25]

Home course is $4500 for the year, $5500 for couples, $6000 for family up to 4.

[gspjeb]

I live on a very nice semi public golf course here in NC and am a member (Anderson Creek). Its a fantastic course and for residents costs 1300.00 initiation and then 130.00 per month for my entire family to play. A weekend round is like 68.00 so it is a pretty darn good deal. I play 8 or 10 rounds a month. Sandhills in NC has some fantastic deals on clubs.

[justincredible]

We pay $139/month for an "associate" membership at our club. That gets us full access to the pool, tennis court, clubhouse, etc.
Greens fees are $8 on weekdays and $10 on weekends. Cart fees are $9 for 9 holes and $16 for 18 holes (though I never take a cart).
Our initiation fee was only $100 (normally $500) due to a promotion they were running.

For $229/month I wouldn't have to pay greens fees but I'd need to average about 10 rounds of golf a month over the course of the entire year to get my money's worth.

[lonewolf]

It's like real estate. Local economics trump all.

I'm lucky. Just joine a semi-private course in the Chas., SC area for $500 initiation and $200/month. No greens fees/unlimited range balls and play golf a lot more.

A lot of courses around here are competing for less players.

[SVTGolfer]

Ever since I played at my Uncle Private Country Club out in Vegas ive wanted to be a member of a real club. There is just something different about belonging to a private club. When I went to his club out in Vegas I was amazed at how the staff acted, and how good a shape the course was in. We pull up and every single person I encountered knew his name. I don't know if that had something to do with being the current club champ or not, but hey... It was really nice. It almost felt like family. Everyone knows everyone.

Now paying to be a part of one is a totally different story. Hahaha. Most of them are so dang expensive! Way more than I could ever afford.ive heard that because of the state of the economy a lot of clubs that used to be private are becoming "semi-private" whatever that means, or getting rid of their "initiation" costs all together. Some still make you qualify by your yearly income, but they don't charge that huge $10,000 up front fee.
Unless its unlimited free golf & free range balls. I don't see myself joining one. These are ball park figures, but $2-$400 a month, plus you have to spend so much money either in the pro shop or the bar/restaurant, etc... per quarter, it gets a bit pricey real fast. The idea of playing golf as much as possible and being able to practice as much as I want, without paying the $8 a bucket every time is pretty sweet though.

[Titleist_ProV1x]

  ibigler said:

I was just wondering what you guys pay for your golf memberships or what they cost if you dont belong to any...

Trust me, Once you join a private country club it won't seem so absurd, Especially when you no longer have to deal with slow players, Ball thieves, Bad course conditions, People wearing T-shirts, Tank tops, Jeans, Short shorts, Jogging suits, and the list goes on and on

[VMAN]

I'll quote Ferris Bueller:


"...I highly recommend picking one up"

[Lefty-Golfer]

  SVTGolfer said:

Ever since I played at my Uncle Private Country Club out in Vegas ive wanted to be a member of a real club. There is just something different about belonging to a private club. When I went to his club out in Vegas I was amazed at how the staff acted, and how good a shape the course was in. We pull up and every single person I encountered knew his name. I don't know if that had something to do with being the current club champ or not, but hey... It was really nice. It almost felt like family. Everyone knows everyone.

This part of it...the course if you join a good one is better maintained, staff treats you will well, you make friends and business network...if you can afford it there is really no down side.

[Lefty-Golfer]

  Titleist_ProV1x said:

Trust me, Once you join a private country club it won't seem so absurd, Especially when you no longer have to deal with slow players, Ball thieves, Bad course conditions, People wearing T-shirts, Tank tops, Jeans, Short shorts, Jogging suits, and the list goes on and on

all good points, anything over a 4 hour round is now a problem.

[IcemanYVR]

There is nothing wrong with belonging to a private club, sure some clubs and always some people have the idea that they're special, but they're in the monority. The majority of the people just love golf, and want to play.

Unfortunately, around here, the cheapest Private Club has an initiation fee of $60,000 and there are only a couple of semi-private clubs, and they are either really out of the way, or not very good courses