Golf Membership in Naples Florida

[SC Seawolf]

Interested to get your thoughts on the best private club memberships in Southwest Florida.  Right never every club I visit is over-priced and with a waiting list.  Average clubs are asking for a $40-$50K initiation fee, up-front plus 7% sales tax.  Annual Dues for most are as expected $10-$12K.  The area continues to grow and with the old money in the area, the prognosis is not great for any deals. 

 

I can justify (aka "rationalize the lie to myself") paying $50K if the course is AWESOME and they let you spread that number out a bit.  Does anyone know of a club that fits that description. I love the idea of Old Florida or Hideout (Golf only, no tee times), but their numbers are $65-$85 and they want it all up front.  When you pay that much you really want to blown away, thrilled with the quality and layout of the course.  

[Abh159]

Try posting this in the Courses/Membership/Travel thread. You'll get better responses there. 

 

Other than that all I'll say is that you've picked a really bad point in time to try to join a private club. Initiation fees and monthly dues in just about every city/state are up 20-50% from where they were 2 years ago.

[platgof]

I was born in Naples, and old money is everywhere. My high school had a Corvette Car Club! In Naples people will spend over $1million to buy a house, tear it down, and build another one. That was twenty years ago, imagine where the costs are now? 

[Robber6656]

Covid, is the best thing to happen to golf but the worse thing for actual golfers. Hate to say that but it’s true.

 

Playing Hideout tomorrow. $75k

Lely classics is going to $60K

The Island on Marco $125k

Royal Palm is $30,000 with a waiting list

Imperial going to $60k

The Creek at Fiddlers creek $150k

 

The Rookery and Hammock Bay have 613 on a waiting list. They are going to require a deposit in January so I’m sure that will clear out a big part of the list.

[pearls24]

Check out Quail Creek CC- they have 36 holes.  They are decent tracks- not my favorites but conditions are usually very good and the greens pristine.  They have daily games, tournaments, etc.  My buddy joined there last year and he is 54 and he is still paying the Junior Rate.  For him, initiation was only $2500 and dues are around $11k-$12k I think.  

[Abh159]

11 minutes ago, pearls24 said:

Check out Quail Creek CC- they have 36 holes.  They are decent tracks- not my favorites but conditions are usually very good and the greens pristine.  They have daily games, tournaments, etc.  My buddy joined there last year and he is 54 and he is still paying the Junior Rate.  For him, initiation was only $2500 and dues are around $11k-$12k I think.  

 

Only in Florida can a 54 year old get a Junior Membership 😂🤣😂

[Robber6656]

4 hours ago, pearls24 said:

Check out Quail Creek CC- they have 36 holes.  They are decent tracks- not my favorites but conditions are usually very good and the greens pristine.  They have daily games, tournaments, etc.  My buddy joined there last year and he is 54 and he is still paying the Junior Rate.  For him, initiation was only $2500 and dues are around $11k-$12k I think.  

Website shows the initiation fee at $40,000 for a class A golf membership.

 

There is an associate membership that goes to age 55. Nothing listed for a fee.That’s a strange set up. 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2021 by Robber6656

[pearls24]

My buddy said they actually did away with the Jr. rate and the initiation is going up to $60k due to the demand since Covid.  Pretty crazy jump in fees.

[jet951]

damn you guys pay a fortune for golf fees. Im a member at wakehust on sydneys northern beaches, its not private and its about 3Kau a year. Private clubs in this area such as monash and manly usually have a one off application fee of around 10Kau and yearly fees of around 3-5kau.

When you say the creek at fiddlers is 150k is that a one off fee for life or is this yearly

 

[Abh159]

8 minutes ago, jet951 said:

damn you guys pay a fortune for golf fees. Im a member at wakehust on sydneys northern beaches, its not private and its about 3Kau a year. Private clubs in this area such as monash and manly usually have a one off application fee of around 10Kau and yearly fees of around 3-5kau.

When you say the creek at fiddlers is 150k is that a one off fee for life or is this yearly

 

 

In the US when we're discussing "initiation" or "joining" fees for private clubs we are referring to a one time fee due when you join. You also pay monthly or yearly dues on top of that.

 

The costs of private club membership vary wildly. For example, in my area (big metro area in the southeastern US) there are many different levels of clubs you can join

 

• Lower tier - less than $2k to join plus monthly dues of $200-300 dollars.
• Middle tier - $20k-$75k to join with monthly dues of $400-800 dollars.
• Upper tier / high end - $150k+ to join, and instead of monthly dues they just take the club's operating budget at the end of the year and divide that amongst the members. That could be $20k for the year or it could be $100k just depending on the year.

Needless to say the conditioning and atmosphere of the course / club is reflective of the price. 

[Robber6656]

The Fiddlers Creek initiation is and Equity membership. So in theory if you quit the club you would be your $150k back when a new member takes your place. Whether that actually happens depends on the economy.  The monthly dues is around $1000 on top of that. The prices have gone way up along with the housing market in SW Florida due to covid. It's joke what some courses are asking for and getting.

 

The UK/AUS model is different. They are selling tee times to tourists and are really more like a semi private club here.

[Schley]

On 11/9/2021 at 12:30 AM, Abh159 said:

 

In the US when we're discussing "initiation" or "joining" fees for private clubs we are referring to a one time fee due when you join. You also pay monthly or yearly dues on top of that.

 

The costs of private club membership vary wildly. For example, in my area (big metro area in the southeastern US) there are many different levels of clubs you can join

 

• Lower tier - less than $2k to join plus monthly dues of $200-300 dollars.
• Middle tier - $20k-$75k to join with monthly dues of $400-800 dollars.
• Upper tier / high end - $150k+ to join, and instead of monthly dues they just take the club's operating budget at the end of the year and divide that amongst the members. That could be $20k for the year or it could be $100k just depending on the year.

Needless to say the conditioning and atmosphere of the course / club is reflective of the price. 

Good description but I would add a couple things. Are we really saying that a 75k initiation is a middle tier? South Florida yes agree, but where else in the the southeast are you seeing costs like that?

 

Also would say the upper tier isn't necessarily getting you a better course, in most cases it is a better clubhouse, ancillary activities while in a more posh neighborhood and location. Take Mountain Lake. Crappy location, but a great course and much more reasonable to join as a result of the location. The operating budgets of the upper tier are almost always known in dues. Very few places outside of Cypress Point and a handful of others have the division of expenses just divided up.

[Abh159]

On 11/13/2021 at 11:51 AM, Schley said:

The operating budgets of the upper tier are almost always known in dues. Very few places outside of Cypress Point and a handful of others have the division of expenses just divided up.

 

I know of at least 4 courses in my state that operate this way. 2 of those are within 25 miles of my house.

 

Every state and every city is different, and I understand that what is "normal" to me isn't the norm in other places. However, I think you'd be surprised to learn that there are a lot of courses other than Cypress Point that divide up expenses at the end of the year. 

[Browns71213]

I don't have an answer, but I just came back from a week of Naples golf. The courses there were all hit or miss on condition and that includes the private clubs we played. For the initiation fees I saw, I would want a lot more outta of my courses. 

[Robber6656]

2 hours ago, Browns71213 said:

I don't have an answer, but I just came back from a week of Naples golf. The courses there were all hit or miss on condition and that includes the private clubs we played. For the initiation fees I saw, I would want a lot more outta of my courses. 

Can you give me some examples? Curious as to what courses weren’t in good shape.

[Schley]

6 hours ago, Abh159 said:

 

I know of at least 4 courses in my state that operate this way. 2 of those are within 25 miles of my house.

 

Every state and every city is different, and I understand that what is "normal" to me isn't the norm in other places. However, I think you'd be surprised to learn that there are a lot of courses other than Cypress Point that divide up expenses at the end of the year. 

I think I would have to be surprised certainly for I don't have just a cursory knowledge of private clubs and would be very curious the 4 in your state, which I assume is Florida.

Edited November 15, 2021 by Schley

[Robber6656]

El Dorado is one in Palm Springs. Only one I know of other than the obvious ones mentioned.

[Browns71213]

On 11/15/2021 at 11:56 AM, Robber6656 said:

Can you give me some examples? Curious as to what courses weren’t in good shape.

Stonebridge Country Club-Tough layout from the tips, crappy condition

Valencia-I think was public but it was a cow pasture

Naples Beach & Country Club-Was the nicest condition, but the layout was boring

 

 

[Robber6656]

1 hour ago, Browns71213 said:

Stonebridge Country Club-Tough layout from the tips, crappy condition

Valencia-I think was public but it was a cow pasture

Naples Beach & Country Club-Was the nicest condition, but the layout was boring

 

 

Stonebridge is a bundled community course doesn’t surprise me that it wasn’t in good shape. It’s $4200 a year. Low end course in Naples.  I thought Naples Beach closed permanently in May. You must have the name wrong. 
 

Try Hammock Bay, Rookery or Twin Eagles, next time your in the area. Between May 1st and November 1st you can get on a lot of really nice privates. Trick is playing them once to find the ones you like.

 

 

Edited November 17, 2021 by Robber6656

[Browns71213]

15 hours ago, Robber6656 said:

Stonebridge is a bundled community course doesn’t surprise me that it wasn’t in good shape. It’s $4200 a year. Low end course in Naples.  I thought Naples Beach closed permanently in May. You must have the name wrong. 
 

Try Hammock Bay, Rookery or Twin Eagles, next time your in the area. Between May 1st and November 1st you can get on a lot of really nice privates. Trick is playing them once to find the ones you like.

 

 

 

You're correct, we drove past the closed course multiple times so that name was stuck in my head. It was actually The Country Club of Naples.

[Robber6656]

2 hours ago, Browns71213 said:

 

You're correct, we drove past the closed course multiple times so that name was stuck in my head. It was actually The Country Club of Naples.

I've never played it. I just looked at it online, $70,000 initiation fee. Looks like an older Florida course winding thru a housing development. A lot of that in Naples. Prices have gotten out of control since Covid.

[bbanksp]

so in summary whats the best club in Naples area regardless of price? good conditon, nice layout

[Robber6656]

4 hours ago, bbanksp said:

so in summary whats the best club in Naples area regardless of price? good conditon, nice layout

Calusa Pines. It’s been in the US top 100.

[GolfSRQ]

But you have no chance of joining there , or playing there.  

[jones137]

Just joined Olde Cypress as an associate member……best pricing I’ve seen in Naples for a mid level club and really nice Pete Dye course. 
 

 

[SC Seawolf]

Not sure what you paid for an associate membership, but the full membership is currently $50K. It was $30K spread over 2 payments, but once they reopened Nov 15, they quickly jacked it to $50K. 

 

Associate members have restrictions and typically can only play so many times year, especially during snow bird season.  

 

Because of COVID (and politics) more people are working from home and flocking to FL.  So demand is crazy, and golf courses are taking advantage of it.  I don't blame them, thats simple economics.  

 

Bottom line is to play golf in Naples at a private club anytime between Nov and early May you better be prepared drop some serious change.  And if you become America's guest, you can plan on paying $120 to $200 per round.  

[Robber6656]

33 minutes ago, SC Seawolf said:

Not sure what you paid for an associate membership, but the full membership is currently $50K. It was $30K spread over 2 payments, but once they reopened Nov 15, they quickly jacked it to $50K. 

 

Associate members have restrictions and typically can only play so many times year, especially during snow bird season.  

 

Because of COVID (and politics) more people are working from home and flocking to FL.  So demand is crazy, and golf courses are taking advantage of it.  I don't blame them, thats simple economics.  

 

Bottom line is to play golf in Naples at a private club anytime between Nov and early May you better be prepared drop some serious change.  And if you become America's guest, you can plan on paying $120 to $200 per round.  

 

Yup, waiting on the change to the initiation fee at The Members Club at Marco (Rookery and Hammock Bay). Last I heard they had 600 on the waiting list. How many actually accept the membership is another story. Rumor is they are going to require a deposit to stay on the waiting list. That should bring it down to the people who are serious about joining.

[Schley]

Feel bad for all those soon to be retirees moving down to the area, as yes it was never cheap, however now it is crazy expensive. 5 or so years ago could certainly get more value.

[SC Seawolf]

Olde Cypress has gone from an initiation fee of $35K in Nov, to $50K in Dec, and just increased to $60K this week.  And everyone has a waiting list.  Prices are insane, and I expect a reset at some point.  But not anytime soon.  Most people coming to Naples are relatively price insensitive.  That said...once its gets so expensive, people can look at opportunity cost and find much cheaper and less frustrating ways to spend their time and money.  

[jones137]

I paid $6500 for associate membership plus $7k in annual dues.

 

I get 12 rounds in season and unlimited out of season. I still work so 12 rounds in season is fine plus I play with clients at their clubs.