How to Join a Private Country Club

The good life: a large house with a small mortgage; a German sedan with more horses under the hood than the Kentucky Derby; a boat, a beach house and a bulging investment portfolio. To put the icing on that cake, you need a membership at a distinguished, private country club.

Before you start scrolling through the country club market place, here are a few tips to consider.

Golfers enjoying a sunny day on a scenic course by the water, surrounded by lush green fairways and sandy bunkers.

The High Cost of joining a Private Golf Club

If life has blessed you a hefty chunk of discretionary income at your disposal, then long ago you learned to make smart financial decisions. Joining a country club could cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Six figure initiation fees aren’t out of the question. The dues, fees and assessments associated with private club memberships will empty your wallet, and y

According to Golf Property Analysts, memberships in the United States commonly range from $7,500 to $40,000 per year, while initiation costs can start as little as nothing and hit $250,000. Of course, this is a price game, but did you know studies show that the annual cost of playing golf can outpace the cost of inflation by three times as much.

Here is a short list of the costs associated with joining and belonging to a private club:

Initiation Fee.  Many clubs require a one-time fee paid upon joining the club..

Annual or Monthly Membership Dues Regular fees keep your membership active. These dues help cover the club's operating expenses.

Capital Assessments: Occasionally, clubs require members to contribute to large projects, such as renovations or improvements to the facilities.

Food and Beverage Minimums: Some clubs require members to spend a certain amount on food and drinks in the club house. These minimums generally at around $300 a month and can go higher

Cart and Caddie Fees. If you use a golf cart or caddie, these costs are usually separate from membership dues. Carts typically run $20 to $50 per round for carts while a caddie$50 to $150+ per round.

Locker Fees and Bag Storage Some clubs charge $50 to $500 plus a year for locker use and bag storage.

Equity or Bond Some clubs require members to purchase an equity stake in the club or a refundable bond.  Costs range into tens of thousands of dollars, and occasionally more. Sometimes bonds are refundable if you leave the course

To this list you can add tournament fees, tips and gratuities, guest fees. All of these costs can add up quickly. You owe it to yourself, your business and your estate to fully understand the financial commitments when joining a private golf club.

The Application Process

Before you go knocking on the gates of your nearest private club, you should know something about the application process. At some clubs, you only need to fill out an application and write a check. Call that, the easy way in. Unfortunately, that’s not true everywhere.

The more exclusive the club, more stringent the entrance requirements. You may need references from club members for example. The most exclusive clubs, the ones really worth joining, look for members that can not only pay dues, but individuals and families that enrich the climate of the club in some way. You may need to go through an interview process run by a membership committee. Some clubs recruit very good players who can represent the club in tournaments and inter club matches. Of course, even then you may need other to meet other qualifications. Success in business helps. So does a pedigree that includes attendance at the right universities and preparatory schools. And keep in mind, some clubs don’t just take applicants off the street. The very elite courses, ie Trout National The Reserve in Vineland, NJ,  are often invitation only. They will offer you the opportunity to apply, if you meet what they seek in their membership.

Taking Stock of the Club

You wouldn’t buy a car wit

hout checking kicking the tires and checking out the interior. Likewise, you should dive into a private club membership without learning about the entire facility. Start with the golf course. A well-manicured course that’s maintained throughout the year is a must. As a member, your dues pay for the conditioning. All golf courses will require some maintenance like aeration that closes the facility a period that might last a few ways to a couple of weeks. There’s more to a good golf course than just green grass.  A good golf course will have firm, fast greens, fairways that allow the ball to run, well-edged bunkers and consistently thick rough.

Pay attention to the name of the architect who designed the club, and the names of any architects involved in renovations and improvements. Names like Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, and Tom Fazio add to the prestige of the club and give you a good idea of the challenge you might be facing.

You should also examine the clubs history. Many distinguished clubs have hosted PGA and LPGA Tour events, and may continue to host tournaments. It is great to see yourself walking down the same fairways as Freddie Couples and Rory McElroy. The elite courses, Winged Foot, Baltusrol, Merion, just to name a few, have hosted major championships These clubs occupy a special place in the history of the game.

You may be primarily interested in the golf, but don’t neglect the other amenities like pools, courts for tennis and pickle ball, fitness facilities and the like. Private club golf is a lifestyle. The club you choose should fit you in a variety of ways.

Check out the pro shop and the merchandise inside. That logo on the shirts, hats and bags is going to be your logo for sometime after you join. You want access to top quality merchandise from brands like Peter Milar, Travis Matthews, and Greyson. Of course you may also want a selection of equipment like drivers, wedges and putters from Callaway, Titleist, Cobra and the like. Fully stocked golf shops are a must.

Don’t neglect the clubhouse. Check out the atmosphere around the facility and look closely at the cuisine. You may even want to meet the chef. Chances are good you will be eating many meals at the club over the course of your membership.

Management matters

Ownership and management structure can make an enormous difference in the club you join. In some cases, when you pay your initial fees and dues, you are actually buying a piece of the club. Other clubs are owned by private individuals and/or their families. Still others, owned and operated by corporations and golf management companies.

Many private golf consumers are drawn to private equity clubs. As the name implies, when you join a private equity club, you become a part owner of the facility, along with other members. At private equity clubs, you will find a board of directors consisting of other members. The board approves memberships, sets club policies, deals with personnel, and controls all aspects of the financial operation. Frequently, they hire a general manager, director of golf, food and beverage manager, and other department heads to oversee day-to-day operations. Among the many advantages of having equity in the club is this: if you decide to leave, you can sell back your equity in the club, recouping some of you investment.

Corporate ownership is quite the opposite. A company, typically one heavily invested in the club, owns and operates the club. The corporation controls all major aspects of club operation. Frequently, this structure sets in stone all the clubs pricing and policies. The on-site management, including general managers, club professionals and membership coordinators have little latitude in executing policy. At times, members can get frustrated when managements only answer to a complaint is, “Sorry, that’s company policy.” On the other hand, as the golf consumer, you are far less likely to escalating fees and assessments common among equity clubs. You pay your dues and enjoy your membership.

In Conclusion

Membership at a private country club brings with it many advantages. Great golf would be one.  The best private clubs almost alway have immaculately manicured championship-style golf courses. The other families, swimming pools, tennis courts and the like, will be equally well maintained. The dining will match that at top-notch restaurants. And there is no way to measure the value of friendships, business connections, and other networking attributes you will find when you join a private club.