Private Club Memberships

[schapman]

Wow I need to move for some cheaper golf from what I've seen here.
Some of the public courses:
Surrey Golf course - $3300/year for week long unlimited
Kings Links - 2850 for the year
Belmont/Swaneset/Halzemere (a group you can get a membership to all 3 at)- 18,000 + 310/month

I'm usually happy to pay under $50CAD for a weekend round. Even that's hard to find.

[piper_clap]

I paid $275 last year to be a member at a semi-private course that was more like a slightly better than average muni.

This year, I paid $420 to be a member at the local course. Its not a championship level course, but at 71.6/128 from the tips, it is challenging enough and they have great greens. Its two blocks from my house, and in the month of April I've already paid for my membership in the amount of golf I've played.

[MSDOGS1976]

  mangine77 said:

Wow, I must be the poorest guy on this site. I could never pay these prices to play golf.

Consider yourself lucky.

[TheWarHound]

$525 per year ($100 discount for being a teacher) at a semi-private golf club - has a clubhouse, bar, pool, and a so-so 9 hole course. Several of my friends from work joined, and it is between work and home for me . . . very convenient.

[ukalum]

I belong to a 4 star links course in central WI. Membership is about $875 walking or $1,300 w/cart. Good deal, but the past few years I'm not sure if I got my $$ worth vs paying each time. Though, the upside is that I golf much more than I would without it. Private clubs are $4-7k/yr.

[Clambake]

Man, reading most of these I want to weep. In the San Diego area, the private clubs range from about $70-80k initiation with $1000/month fees up to around $150-175k initiation and $1200-$1600 per month. That's why we locals love Torrey Pines so much!!!

[nykfan4life]

I've been a muni hacker for most of my life but I wanted to see what It's like money wise to join a country club. If you belong to a country club, what where all the fees involved? (If you don't mind) Joining, monthly(or yearly), restauraunt fees, etc etc. overall cost? I'm not looking for advice on how to join a country club(I know some places require you to know someone, etc), I'm just trying to gather information. If you could also list which club you belong too, thanks.



[sorry for the sloppily written paragraph and any spelling errors, but its close to 1 AM and I'm just trying to gather my thoughts ]

[alf174]

There are 4 other threads on the same topic:

Looking into a Country Club Membership.

Questions about Club Membership

Whats your Club Membership cost?

Golf Country Club Membership

[BigTazz53]

I was looking into the various clubs around the area and I guess no one told these folks the economy is in the tank.
Their prices were almost like buying a car.
Am I crazy or is that reasonable cost from these places just to be able to say you "belong" to a course.
Anyone out their belong to a country club ? Is it worth it?

[woodzie264]

While admittedly not a member anywhere, I have looked into it several times - while cost is an issue, it's not the deterrant; I get tired of playing the same course 2-3 times in a row - i need the variety, so I can't justify having a membership at one club, but then paying to play at other courses.

[sooperstring]

I don't know about there, but around here most of the clubs have offered huge membership rate cuts. Almost all of them have at least some way to waive the initiation fees.

I always thought membership was overrated, until I played (at the club I later joined) with a friend. The course was better maintained than any of the munis, and the tee times are inevitably spaced apart more than the courses that need to pack as many people in as possible.

The unfortunate answer is always going to be "It completely depends on the club."

[Zeph]

How much do you have to pay on your local club? I'm not sure how those work compared to golf clubs in Norway, but here, you can be a member with playing rights. Meaning you can play all you want free of charge. It does cost a bit of course, but if you play more than 8-12 rounds a year, it'll pay off.

It depends a lot on which club I guess, but being a member makes it easier to connect with others, play in tournaments, hang around the clubhouse after rounds and stuff like that.

[RMD]

My answer is "Yes & No"
No, if by "belonging" to a course means you get special privaleges at a semi-private. My experience is that you are still faced with difficulty getting tee times, (especially on weekends) closely spaced tee times (creating traffic jams), and the dreaded "Outing". Most semi-private courses agressively market themselves to corporate and charity groups. Our local semi-private is closed to the public (including members) two or three days a week during the season. So a resounding NO to semi-privates.

Yes, if you can see yourself clear to join a private country club. Here you will find ready access to a much better conditioned course, meet lifelong friends with similar likes and wants, many fun & competitive tournaments, and great social activities. It's great to show up, be addressed by name, and have your clubs cleaned and ready.You must, however, get past the cost. First there's the initiation cost. Often all or part of the initiation cost is equity, meaning you get it back (sometimes more) upon resignation. The current economy works for you here. Many/most clubs are discounting upfront fees to attract new members. I don't know how old you are but, most clubs offer very attractive "Junior" rates. Then there are monthly dues. If you play a lot of golf they are about the same as green fees for 2 rounds a week.

I've played for quite a while but would give it up without my club.

[Larryscooterman]

I belong to a private club. Best decision I ever made. My wife and I both play twice to three times per week. I was worried about possibly getting sick of the same course, but I have been a member for 12 years now and not sick of it yet. Plus there are lots of opportunities to play other private clubs on a reciprocal basis. There are frequent member events/tournaments which are fun and help keep a competitive edge. Around here each club has a district team, on which you compete against other area clubs. The service at a private club is FAR beyond what you will get at even the best public courses. At least around where I live, the conditions at the private clubs far exceeds public courses. Greens are firm and fast. The only problem is I am now spoiled, and could not imagine having to 'pub' it again.

Make sure you at least TRY to negotiate the initiation fee. Most clubs around here will negotiate, and many are somewhat desperate. In my experience, they generally won't negotiate too much on the dues, but initiation fees are being waived at lots of clubs.

I agree with RMD - I might quit golf if I couldn't be in a private club anymore.

[kfowler]

My dad is a member of a private club. I looked into it recently. Off the top of my head, here's what I see as the adv/dis.

Advantages
- Pace of play. Times I've played private you never had anyone right behind you or in front of you. So much more relaxing.
- It's great to just grab a bag of balls and hit as much or little as you want.
- Depending on the club, you get a lot of extra personal service. Place I played in FL had a guy with towels in iced cooler going around handing them out. They also had barrels of fruit in ice on several holes. Very nice.
- If they have the whole pool and gym. You can make it a great place for the rest of the family to hang out.
- Weekend morning tee times.

Disadvantages
- Vary greatly but cost. If you play a lot though, this can work in your favor.
- You really need to play twice a week to be worth it.
- Playing same course every week.
- Food and beverage commitment if the club has one.
- Politics.

[opie]

100% worth it for me. Fully private course. No trouble with tee times, I get within 30 minutes of what I want. Pace is good even on weekends. Free range balls. Food is good. Beverage chickadee's are cute :D

I've enjoyed being a member and the same course doesn't bother me

[Taylor Shrake]

If you can find a good course, pref private than anything. I would go for it. I belong to a club here in Indiana called Prestwick. Its a private club that can't exceed 400 members. The course is very well kept, and you get invited to social events. If you play golf more than 4-5 times a month, I would very much reccomend it.

[flopdarock]

ive gone that route and its great for awhile... lots of pros and cons... but i enjoy playing different courses too much to be stuck with one... so its on the back burner for me to join one later on in life