Anyone ever join a country club??

[MomNeedsVacay]

I've been thinking about it, but I can't find out prices online. I'm looking at 2 country clubs in our area---and would like to get an idea of membership dues/ fees ...but nothing in that regard is posted online....Why so secretive?

How much is your country club membership where you are??? What are the benefits? What features do you use your membership for?? Thanks!!

 

[Darcy03231]

I know the one near me is $20k to join. There are monthly fees after that that vary depending on if you're a golf member or a social member. I think golf was around $800/mo and social was around $400/mo. You had to spend so much a month in food/drink too.

 

[LoriABil]

Our membership is $2200 a year for golf, cart and range balls. For $3000 a year we could have access to tennis and pool.

To compare, the club down the road is $2500 to join (junior member) and $300 a month, plus a minimal required food purchase each month.

We've always had to call for rates.

 

[karenos]

My in-laws belong to a club in Westchester County NY and the dues are in the mid 5 figures. And you have spend so much a quarter (I forget how much). Needless to say, the clubs around me are far outside our financial comfort zone. But if it works for you - go for it!
karenos

 

[golfgal]

The more exclusive clubs tend to not publish their membership fees from what I have found. We have belonged to "Country Clubs" for many years but none that were exclusive. We generally pay about $1800/year for our memberships. It is less expensive for us to do that then to pay green fees every time we golf. In our old town we had an amazing course and the family membership was $1200 and people complained about that.

Usually with a membership you get a discount in the pro shop, invites to member only tournaments and events (parties) and priority tee times. Some clubs are "semi-private" meaning people in an area have to be members to join but people outside of that area can pay green fees and play when they want.

The biggest advantage of being part of a club that takes memberships is that most of the golfers understand the rules and etiquette which is my biggest frustration on public courses.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I work at a golf club that also has country club features. Usually when the price is not advertised, then it's pretty pricey or just very different for different types of membership. Given the area where you live, my guess is that places are pretty pricey because that is the nature of the DC area. For example, golf memberships (full golf and everything else) versus just social (tennis, pool, dining), and non resident versus resident, and junior versus senior memberships. The average member where I work pays an initiation fee (I forget the amount, but it's crazy - like $20,000) and then $1000/month.

 

[mjkacmom]

The more exclusive clubs tend to not publish their membership fees from what I have found. We have belonged to "Country Clubs" for many years but none that were exclusive. We generally pay about $1800/year for our memberships. It is less expensive for us to do that then to pay green fees every time we golf. In our old town we had an amazing course and the family membership was $1200 and people complained about that.
.

Wow - private pool/tennis clubs here charge about $3000 per family, per year, and they're only open 3 months a year (and some have wait lists, and you need to be referred!).

 

[Pigeon]

I think it's one of those "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" situations. I don't belong to one, but my parents do.

It's a $1,300 initiation fee (basically an application fee) and about $7,500 per year. It's a nice physical plant, but there is no diversity at all. Zip. I grew up spending tons of free time there, but it's nothing I'd want my kids exposed to.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

ok-- one of my neighbors told me that he knows that one of the coiuntry clubs I'm looking at is $60,000 just to join

 

[DMickey28]

Not a country club but a Beach Club that is open from mid-June to the first of September.

For a regular member it's $20K initiation and then it's only $1K each summer but you have to spend $300/month on food and that doesn't include alcohol. I do believe you have to hold a function there once every so often (5yrs?) or so.

 

[lovetonap]

I've been a member of 2 country clubs. The first one was pretty inexpensive. It had a $500 initiation fee (for a social membership) and fees of $250 a month, plus you had to spend $60 in food every month.

Our current country club has an initiation fee of $12,000 (for a social membership). We pay $320 a month in fees and have no minimum food requirement.

 

[czycropper]

The country clubs in DC area are very expensive. One of our good friends is a member of one and his initiation fee was $100,000 and monthly dues are in the hundreds but that's for full membership - golf, club house, pool and tennis. He takes us there whenever we're down there visiting. It's in McLean.

 

[mscoachung]

I think it's one of those "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" situations. I don't belong to one, but my parents do.

It's a $1,300 initiation fee (basically an application fee) and about $7,500 per year. It's a nice physical plant, but there is no diversity at all. Zip. I grew up spending tons of free time there, but it's nothing I'd want my kids exposed to.

Yes, if you need to ask, you can't afford it. County club, Yacht club, private clubs, most need sponsors to join to make sure they bring in the "right people" who can afford the fees and initial joining fee. Really decide if it is for status or convenience. We dropped a few because we never used the facilities and paid all the monthly food charges and all. We kept a few because we were very involved. If it is for status, forget it. You will never fit in, no matter how hard you try. Not trying to being harsh but decide if they are really worth it or do you just want to say you belong?

 

[Pakey]

We belong to one. Initial membership fee was $10,000 and required a sponsorship by 2 members and majority vote approval by voting membership. Dues are close to $6000 annually. My husband golfs at least 5 rounds per week and plays in all club tournaments.

 

[barkley]

The more exclusive clubs tend to not publish their membership fees from what I have found. We have belonged to "Country Clubs" for many years but none that were exclusive. We generally pay about $1800/year for our memberships. It is less expensive for us to do that then to pay green fees every time we golf. In our old town we had an amazing course and the family membership was $1200 and people complained about that.

Usually with a membership you get a discount in the pro shop, invites to member only tournaments and events (parties) and priority tee times. Some clubs are "semi-private" meaning people in an area have to be members to join but people outside of that area can pay green fees and play when they want.

The biggest advantage of being part of a club that takes memberships is that most of the golfers understand the rules and etiquette which is my biggest frustration on public courses.

i think anyone considering this for the advantages you've pointed out (esp. re. golfing) should make inquiries as to what "membership" means.

i say this b/c i worked for a hotel in a major golfing area. while the locals belived that they were paying big $$$$ for a "membership only" country club that prevented public golfers from coming on site, in reality the country club courted the local hotels to buy very cheap "memberships" that allowed any of our guests to use the country club facilities for the same reduced rate the very high paying members benefited from.

as for the "member only" parties, early tee times and the like-the hotel was extended the same benefits and we just bundled them into special package offers to guests. the member only tournaments and parties-we might extend as a perk to high profile guest, or one of the investors in the hotel might use it or gift it to whomever (and often they donated it to their kid's school or other charity as a raffle or silent auction prize).

 

[FlightlessDuck]

My grandfather was a life member of the country club for the company he worked for. I was able to go to the pool a couple of times when I was a kid back in the 80's. It was a surreal experience.

 

[MzDiz]

I managed one of the bars at a country club many years ago. I wouldn't hang out with those people by choice.

 

[dis-happy]

Some memberships are equity memberships where you can re-sell and get your initial money back (sometimes you can even make money, but probably not as easily in this economy). Other memberships you just pay up front to be a member and that's that (although sometimes you can will a membership to a family member). You need to call and see what the big picture is. Around here a couple of private clubs are having membership drives (again, thanks to the economy) where you can buy in and pay over time, or reduced rates if in a certain age bracket.

Not sure I agree with the pp about the private clubs...the ones I have first-hand experience with are truly private and you can't get on the courses without the membership. Will agree that some which are having difficulties may open up a day of the week to fee-only play to bring some revenue in. As a member (or potential member) you should check into the club financials before you join!

 

[Planogirl]

We were invited to join one when we moved to Frisco but I saw no sense in paying top dollar just to use a pool. There is another close by that is very expensive and you can only join if you're invited by a member and then approved.

 

[golfgal]

Wow - private pool/tennis clubs here charge about $3000 per family, per year, and they're only open 3 months a year (and some have wait lists, and you need to be referred!).

Clubs like that around here are closer to $50,000.

i think anyone considering this for the advantages you've pointed out (esp. re. golfing) should make inquiries as to what "membership" means.

i say this b/c i worked for a hotel in a major golfing area. while the locals belived that they were paying big $$$$ for a "membership only" country club that prevented public golfers from coming on site, in reality the country club courted the local hotels to buy very cheap "memberships" that allowed any of our guests to use the country club facilities for the same reduced rate the very high paying members benefited from.

as for the "member only" parties, early tee times and the like-the hotel was extended the same benefits and we just bundled them into special package offers to guests. the member only tournaments and parties-we might extend as a perk to high profile guest, or one of the investors in the hotel might use it or gift it to whomever (and often they donated it to their kid's school or other charity as a raffle or silent auction prize).

We don't live in a "resort" area so that isn't an issue here. I realize that even "member only" clubs have non-members golf at times but not ALL the time like you find on public courses.