Joining a club and/or finding a game in Florida

[eparcpa]

I'm a 60 year old scratch golfer looking to retire somewhere in the winter for three months (January-March) and want to make sure there is a group of golfers to play with on a course with green speeds of 10 or better.  Say, 5 groups with at least 10 golfers with a 5 handicap or better that plays every day.  (I don't mind playing with double digit if they play normal speed - but I also don't like when all five of us are made captains and we never get to play with each other!).   I'm looking at where to retire to, and am considering joining a course. 

However, after many hours on Golf Life Navigators, lots of calls, etc. it appears that the world has changed in two years.  Everything has a $10-25G initiation fee and you usually have to buy a house in the development.  You can rent the membership but it's $12,000 - $24,000/month and you MIGHT get a tee time 3-4 days a week.   I've tried to look for semi-private courses where there is a larger pool of players so it's more likely they would have a daily game - but the only good courses I can find are resort courses.  Any suggestions?  Open to Arizona, Texas, Florida, even Savannah/Hilton Head if that's what it takes...

 

[third-times-a-charm]

Private golf in Florida has been astronomical since covid and no sign of slowing down/reductions in price since the influx of people moving here has not slowed.

 

I can only speak to the Orlando area but Bay Hill has IIRC the longest running shootout in the afternoon (since 1960s?) but you need to be a member or guest of a member. Orange Tree in Orlando also has a weekly/daily game setup and theres lots of better players there - I think - but I dont know much about it. 

 

My examples are very specific to my club and area. You'll prob hear more from others.

[Dancin]

If you're balking at $10-25k initiations + house you should give up now. That's low for someplace warm Jan-Mar. Hope for a really bad multi year recession combined with something that kills off a bunch of the older members in FL and hope you survive that.

 

National memberships at resort courses are probably the only thing in your price range. Scratch golfers in warm areas generally have the money for private memberships and aren't in high numbers at the semi private courses.

 

I will give you one idea. Look into Riverwood Golf Club in Port Charlotte, FL. It's a very good semi private course that is challenging and might have a good group of low handicaps that play there since it is far enough away from the expensive privates in naples.

Edited December 4, 2023 by Dancin

[eparcpa]

Truth is good - even when it hurts!  The alternatives aren't worth it.

 

I'm ok with the initiation fees IF I know there will be a group and available tee times there for years to come.  I've been warned that "bundled" memberships (house and golf) often lead to inability to get tee times because since it's part of the cost it primarily attracts golfers who want to play (makes perfect sense).  I could buy a house and play the rental game, but with only staying 3 months that's a lot of risk.  Safe bet is to plan on being a renter for three months.

Riverwood - I know a couple of members there - I will check it out.  Thanks!!

[Dancin]

4 minutes ago, eparcpa said:

Truth is good - even when it hurts!  The alternatives aren't worth it.

 

I'm ok with the initiation fees IF I know there will be a group and available tee times there for years to come.  I've been warned that "bundled" memberships (house and golf) often lead to inability to get tee times because since it's part of the cost it primarily attracts golfers who want to play (makes perfect sense).  I could buy a house and play the rental game, but with only staying 3 months that's a lot of risk.  Safe bet is to plan on being a renter for three months.

Riverwood - I know a couple of members there - I will check it out.  Thanks!!

The house + golf membership places were all based on only a percentage of members being in FL at the same time. Now with remote work and everyone moving to Florida all those places are finding out 90% of their members are there every day in winter so you have places like TPC Treviso Bay with something like 600 members and all of them being there most of the winter. The same has happened at all of the housing development private clubs.

 

I will say if you do have the money for the non housing private memberships around Naples and are willing to wait the likely years to get in, there are a lot of good sticks at those clubs.

[eparcpa]

Really?  I'll have to look into that.

 

Around here, we have some pretty significant games at the semi-private clubs.  A lot of private members will join them since the courses are in good shape and they are looking for a competitive game as well, not to mention public players at cheaper courses that are willing to spend a little once a week just to have a competitive game (sounds like a tournament, doesn't it?). 

 

 However, whenever you look for best places to play nowadays, it's always the resorts that come up - no games there...  I tried to find semi-private courses in Florida and am striking out.  Not sure about the other states.  (I wonder about Tucson - sounds like golf is much more reasonable there than Phoenix and certainly there must be a lot of serious golfers there...

[eparcpa]

Followed up on your suggestions and many others.  Are there any courses left in Florida that don't have a waiting list?  It seems like every one that I've found that looks promising is full. It appears that the really good semi-private courses of 2-3 years ago went fully private when they filled their membership up. 

 

 

 

 

[Dancin]

You would have to pay up for one of the new ones opening up next year or two, although those are likely fully subscribed already too. If there is any private course in FL that doesn't have a waiting list right now, I'd be very wary about joining it.

[Dancin]

New ones in FL in various stages of development that are likely very expensive but seem to be accepting members if you pass their review and have the money:

https://www.apogeeclub.com/

https://www.calusacreekranch.com

https://miakkagc.com/

https://kinsaleclub.com/

https://soletagolf.com/

Atlantic Fields - Discovery Land co is building a private Fazio course near Jordan's course

Rolling Sands - Tom Doak private design being built northwest of West Palm Beach. Still being kept under wraps and not much on this.

Edited December 6, 2023 by Dancin

[Dancin]

lol. Just read that Apogee is asking for $475K or more for initiation. The Atlantic Fields discovery land co development will require a minimum $6 million land plot purchase for a house + $200k initiation

[eparcpa]

Is it full already?  LOL