Looking into a Golf Membership - Have Some Questions

[Crate]

Hello to all,

I have begun to investigate golf memberships. I know memberships can cost thousands. I checked out a club close by. Here are the cost's.

1. $12,000 to become a member
2. $3500 a year to remain a member
3. $500 a year in food.

Is this average, low or high?

[sonicblue]

I'm in suburban Philly, and I would say that's around average to low. One club near me that's fairly new and posh, and I hear the course is nice, but it isn't exactly in a posh location, wants $14,500 up-front refundable and $5K/year. Not sure what they're monthly or quarterly mins may be on food and the like.

[Dent]

Where i live the top membership is $3,000 and its a high class course.

[Heat]

my membership costs me $700 a year, and I get 14 courses to choose from. I am a junior though

[$2 Nassau]

Here in CT they range greatly from the $25,000 + range down to maybe $3k-$4k for the less desireable clubs.

Not really worth joining around here, there are so many great public course which reasonable rates(reasonable compared to membership rates).

[Undr Par]

call me neive but that's high imho, the course in which I belong (QuailValley) in my sig below is only $1000 a yr unlimited 7days a week (walking) & $1900 a yr unlimited 7days a week (with cart).....but it's not Private either, so maybe that's why it's so cheap

[Jeepthrills]

That would be on the low side in SE Michigan. Most of the nicer clubs are $20,000+ to join and in the $400+ range for dues with another $100+ in monthly minimums. These numbers can jump quickly when you start looking at the high end ones like Oakland Hills, Knollwood and Franklin Hills. However, with the economy the way it is here, there are waiting lists for people to get out of their memberships and the middle to lower tier clubs are hurting. There may be the chance to get a great deal. What you have to weigh out is the cost is year round, but you don't get to play much from December through March.

[KCNick]

I've been looking at annual passes in my area just because it would make a lot sense moneywise if I end up practicing a ton.

The public ones around me are about $795 to walk M-F anytime, and Weekend/Holiday after 1pm. Then it gets progressively more expensive as you add in cart, and open tee times. The pass works at 4 courses.

I could never afford to join a private club, but for curiosity's sake... what's the extra money get you?

[Ghetto P]

They're getting cheaper all the time. A nice course around here is $200 a month with cart and free range balls. Can't beat that, plus it's a top 500 course.

[azgolfer]

all these sound incredibly low. From AZ west to Calif., private clubs run from low aroun $50000 to join plus monthly dues around $500 ++. In the case of the club I left last year, it is $75,000 to join, $550 mth dues and a $21.0 cart fee each round. On the plus side, it's year round golf, top notch facilities, play any time and in some cases a chunk of the get in is refundable when you leave.

Many of the clubs in the Phoenix area are over $100,000 to join. Sounds like east coast golf is bargain dollar wise but short season makes cost per round fairly high.

[Crate]

all these sound incredibly low. From AZ west to Calif., private clubs run from low aroun $50000 to join plus monthly dues around $500 ++. In the case of the club I left last year, it is $75,000 to join, $550 mth dues and a $21.0 cart fee each round. On the plus side, it's year round golf, top notch facilities, play any time and in some cases a chunk of the get in is refundable when you leave.

That is just sick. Crazy sick. Can I come visit ?

[King Cobra II]

Say what!?! I live in like farming country, the nicest courses around here are like 1,500 a year, and there pretty nice. I live sort of near the orchards, which is where the U.S womens open was played a few years back, thats probably the most expensive at around 5g's per year. You can get out at some of the less deseriables (adults) for around 700 a year.

[lhshurdl3r]

Say what!?!

nice course. Twin Hills over in Longmeadow, MA is around 8k per year, idk about dues and monthly fees and stuff. The course I work at, Ludlow Country Club is around 1.6k I think.

[putterboy]

the prices initiation and annual are around average for here. Bar tab is a bit lower than average

[Roody]

The member that I've played Oak Hill Country Club with up here in New York has been a member there for a little over 20 years. He said when he first joined it was $55,000 for the initiation fee. He didn't know what it was up to these days, but I've heard it's $75,000.

One of the guys in my league is a member at Cobblestone CC, which is a decent private club here. Not as nice as Oak Hill, but not too bad. I guess that one is $15,000 initiation, and $500 per month dues and other various fees.

I'm looking into joining a club next year. Though the club I'm looking at only has a straight membership fee - no initiation, no dues, no minimum bar tab. I could care less about the social aspect of a club, it's not like I'm a salesman and need to take clients out. I'm there to play golf, maybe take my wife to dinner a couple times, that's about it. I don't need to throw away my money on all that extra crap.

[Hacker]

I live in Jupiter, Fl where Jack and other pros live. Tiger just bought a $40 mil house here and tore it down to rebuild. The Bears Club, you can guess by the name who designed it, is a very exclusive gated community that has a $1 millon membership buy in and about $50,000 a month dues. Needless to say about five miles from that I play at the public course!

[gr8hntr]

i called one near us today (germantown, tn.)
and its 2k sign-up fee..350 per month and 125 per quarter for food
for the whole family

http://www.germantowncountryclub.com/aboutus.htm

golf ...tennis...swimming

[greenail]

You need to ask about assessments, clubs that have never had one are desirable as it shows they have good management. They may have a current assessment, the club my house is on has one which is an extra 60/month and the course isn't that great. I jointed the club across the street which has two courses for less/month. I bought a condo which waived the initiation fee, and I rent out and make a little $$. Much better to spend the 12k on a real investment than let it sit.