Need Advice on Private Club Membership

[CCTxGolf]

It’s hard to justify $35k initiation at a semi-private (public course) in my opinion. The fact that it’s a resort course makes it even more difficult to justify. That means you will rarely see the same face twice.

 

Edit: IMPOSSIBLE for me to justify a $35k public membership.

[dj300821]

Further complicating this decision is I will be buying a house in the next few months. The two clubs are on opposite sides of town, and houses on Club #1's (more expensive initiation) side of town are around 30-40k cheaper than those on Club #2's side of town. Seemingly counterintuitive, as you would expect the opposite, but that would possibly offset some of the difference in initiation. I actually prefer Club #1's side of town, it is generally safer overall and not as hot and cold (crime wise). The area closer to Club #2 is one of those that it could be great, then a mile over is pretty sketchy. Obviously I would be buying in the "nicer" area, but just trying to give a lay of the land.  

 

I don't necessarily mind not knowing everyone at the club, as long as there's some people that are regulars and maybe have a regular game. Decisions, decisions....

[Dancin]

A good goal is to live within 20 minutes of whatever club you join. 30 minutes max but really should be within 20. If you are 10 minutes or less away, you can jump over and play 3-4 holes anytime or just go hit balls on the range and practice for a little bit. If it is further away you won't do that as often.

Edited March 21 by Dancin

[Bonneville85308]

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Edited March 21 by Bonneville85308

[golfortennis]

5 hours ago, CCTxGolf said:

It’s hard to justify $35k initiation at a semi-private (public course) in my opinion. The fact that it’s a resort course makes it even more difficult to justify. That means you will rarely see the same face twice.

 

Edit: IMPOSSIBLE for me to justify a $35k public membership.

 

So you best not look into Fields Ranch in Frisco(PGA HQ) if that is the case.  Sickening numbers from what I have heard.

[CCTxGolf]

22 minutes ago, golfortennis said:

 

So you best not look into Fields Ranch in Frisco(PGA HQ) if that is the case.  Sickening numbers from what I have heard.

Yeah I’ve seen that. That’s full on psycho numbers. I’m also assuming most of that clientele is using that as like 2nd or 3rd club. No way you gonna pay money like that to play a public course every weekend. And I’ve said it before and I know it’s controversial around here but as awesome as Gil Hanse and Beau Welling are their courses aren’t these rare architectural masterpieces anymore. They are sort of popping up all over the place and between them and Coore/Krenshaw they are all sort of the same. Great courses but not worth six digits semi private memberships.

[ChipNRun]

On 3/18/2024 at 4:28 PM, dj300821 said:

Club #2: Initiation: 5k (paid in full), Dues: $925/month (includes monthly cart plan and range, no F&B minimums, no assessments).

 

What is the exit provision for each course? If you exit, can you sell your membership or recoup (some) of your initiation fee?

 

Are these equity memberships (you own voting stock), or are these a one-time big-cash dump?

 

On 3/18/2024 at 9:02 PM, dj300821 said:

3. Neither club is member-owned, so no assessments to members (one is TPC, one is invited clubs). 

 

So, the initiation fee is "just gone" with no refund if you leave?

-------------------------------------------------------

 

For Club #1, do you plan to be an active volunteer in the "larger PGA Tour event," or do you view this as an annual multi-week limitation on your access to that course?

 

With the PGA Tour event, does this mean you will be a second-class citizen if you are not tied into the tournament crowd?

 

On 3/18/2024 at 4:28 PM, dj300821 said:

I plan on settling down in this area and not moving anytime soon.

 

Do you  have to work, or you are you retired/independently wealthy? If you are set for $$, course #1 would be best. I fear you would always look down the street if you ended up in Course #2.

 

[Dancin]

11 hours ago, ChipNRun said:

 

What is the exit provision for each course? If you exit, can you sell your membership or recoup (some) of your initiation fee?

 

Are these equity memberships (you own voting stock), or are these a one-time big-cash dump?

 

 

So, the initiation fee is "just gone" with no refund if you leave?

 

Yes. These are not equity clubs. Initiation is the price of admission to the club.

[dj300821]

In answer to ChipNRun, I will not be getting the initiation fee back if I leave the club or sell the membership. Which is a downside, but the upside is there is no assessments, so I won't have an unexpected bill for $5k show up three years into membership. 

 

I believe they keep the other course open for member play in advance of the PGA Tour event. I assume both courses are closed during the actual week of the event. I will get more information on this next week when I tour and speak with the membership director. 

 

I do work a full time job (from home), so it will allow me to get out probably twice during the week and all weekend if I wanted to. I wouldn't say I am wealthy, but have a good amount of savings to pull from. If I join the more expensive club, I will also have about a 30k less mortgage for a house on that side of town (compared to Club #2 side of town).

 

I will also add that there really isn't other options as far as clubs go that are in good shape and aren't astronomically expensive or a far drive. So it's either I join one of these two clubs (depending where I buy a home), or continue with the public tracks which I have outlined the issues in my original post. Kind of sucks there is no middle ground here. 

[elsie451]

It really sounds like you prefer club #1.  I would do the 3 year payment plan on the initiation.  Although the total initiation fee is more, with current interest rates, it's not that much more in real terms.  Plus, this will give you extra cash in case there are unexpected costs with your new home.

[FlashinLeather]

If I was buying a house in the next few months I would just wait on the membership.

 

Buy the house and then circle back on membership - cost / distance to course.

Edited March 22 by FlashinLeather

[Dancin]

49 minutes ago, dj300821 said:

I believe they keep the other course open for member play in advance of the PGA Tour event. I assume both courses are closed during the actual week of the event. I will get more information on this next week when I tour and speak with the membership director.

Depends on how the resort is laid out. If the second course is completely separate and they don't intertwine the other one may be open during the tournament. You will be sharing that with the hotel guests the whole time the second course is closed, so tee times can be a little tougher. Another issue with the TPC hotel resort clubs is they tend to host a lot of charity and other weekday tournaments throughout the year which will also put the hotel guests and members on the same course on those days. Ask for how many days that happened last year. Just from being a hotel guest at a lot of them and being told X course is closed for an event on certain days, it seems like it happens quite a bit.

[Drwoods2017]

Our club hosts a PGA Tour event and we're shut down for 2 weeks before the event.  If they shut both courses down I'm sure they have reciprocal deals around so I wouldn't worry about that. 

[JZ75]

Any idea on what the members are like at the two clubs?  All clubs have good guys and jerks, but club culture can vary significantly which makes a huge difference.  I’ve been at a few clubs over the years due to moves and would say the membership makes more of a difference than minor differences in the course or having the course shut down for a tourney.

 

I will also add, if you like club 1 more, go for it and don’t look back, you won’t regret it.  The rationale you are laying out makes sense to me.  IMO if you can afford it there really isn’t anything like belonging to a private you love.

 

I agree with elsie that the 3 year plan makes sense.

[st1800e]

Decisions, decisions… Sometimes not making a decision is the right decision.   
 

See how you feel in a year.   And get as many games as you can at each one.  

[PeteNC]

Invited has a history of taking away benefits, even without telling you along with upcharges for everything.  dues increases have been about 10% a year the last few years.  

If you're comfortable with the 35k I would go that route.

[monty09]

On 3/21/2024 at 6:49 PM, CCTxGolf said:

Yeah I’ve seen that. That’s full on psycho numbers. I’m also assuming most of that clientele is using that as like 2nd or 3rd club. No way you gonna pay money like that to play a public course every weekend. And I’ve said it before and I know it’s controversial around here but as awesome as Gil Hanse and Beau Welling are their courses aren’t these rare architectural masterpieces anymore. They are sort of popping up all over the place and between them and Coore/Krenshaw they are all sort of the same. Great courses but not worth six digits semi private memberships.

 

 

agree...numbers are nuts

[J_Birdie]

Dude must be talking about TPC San Antonio and Fair Oaks. 

 

I am a member at TPC and shopped both of those same courses, so if I guessed correctly then just shoot me a DM and I can tell you about it from a perspective of someone who chose TPC over Fair Oaks.