What does a country club membership generally include?

[RJRJRJ]

Is it completely different depending on the club, or are there usually basic similarities between clubs? You pay thousands of dollars up front and monthly or annual dues, but does that include green fees? What about a guest? Included or do they pay? What additional charges should one expect in addition to initiation and monthly dues?

Thanks

[nitram]

You will usually have to pay for a guest but at a members rate.

Cart storage and trail fee, unless you rent one of theirs.

Flat rate food and beverage privileges. For example; the club will charge you $100 per month for meals and adult beverages whether you drink and dine or not. If you decide to partake at the club, your daily bill(s) are deducted from your flat rate.

Some clubs charge you a flat rate in the pro shop with you burning whatever the monthly fee is on balls, clothes, etc.

You usually have full access to the golf course, pool, tennis court, racquetball, etc. You'll usually have to rent the clubhouse if you need it for a party or whatnot.

[OneBowTie]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1288041682' post='2758826']
Is it completely different depending on the club, or are there usually basic similarities between clubs? You pay thousands of dollars up front and monthly or annual dues, but does that include green fees? What about a guest? Included or do they pay? What additional charges should one expect in addition to initiation and monthly dues?
Thanks
[/quote]

Not all country club memberships are cookie cutter or standard..... but today many are similar.

Usually, once you join, whether you pay a initiation fee or if its waived (many are waived today) ..... you can expect to pay cart fee's for yourself and any family member that is included in your membership...... guests normally have a fee, that fee is not generally included in your membership or monthly fee's......

Most reoccuring fee's would include monthly dues....... and then add in most of the time a quarterly food minimum you must spend at the club

Some other fee's that are usually included are range fee's..... but I have seen where now some clubs are charging a yearly or monthly fee for this with the reduced or waived inititation fee's they used to intice new memberships.

Other fee's you can expect would be a yearly one time fee for mens/ladies golf association........ one time yearly fee for handicap services....... one time yearly fee for bag/cart storage......and some clubs have a one time yearly maintenance fee..... and also a one time yearly fee for mens/womans locker room locker.... also there is usually a one time yearly hole in one club fee

I think this covers most of the fees......

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1288041682' post='2758826']
Is it completely different depending on the club, or are there usually basic similarities between clubs? You pay thousands of dollars up front and monthly or annual dues, but does that include green fees? What about a guest? Included or do they pay? What additional charges should one expect in addition to initiation and monthly dues?
Thanks
[/quote]

There can be a lot of variables primarily because the term "country club" is used rather loosely.

There commonly are two business models.

1) Equity Ownership model (members are the owners)
2) 'Club Model" where someone else owns the club (and ultimately all the decisions, not that members don't have a huge say in this case)

The upside of #1 is that you, as an owner, actually 'own' a piece of all decisions. The downside is that you are (partly) responsible for all bills and (occasionally) can face 'an assessment' (additional charge to you).

Many clubs of both models have multiple levels of membership (e.g., Full, Single, Social, Inactive, etc) with differing monthly charges (and privileges). You will almost always find a level of membership with no greens fees for members. You will possibly pay a cart fee or for cart storage (if applicable). And you might pay a 'trail fee' even if you don't use a club cart or store your cart at the club (sometimes).

Guests almost always pay a fee (often reduced). There also is often a minimum club charge where you pay a certain minimum even if you don't use any club amenities (bar, restaurant, etc). This is common but not universal.

I would not make any assumptions before making a decision. Read the fine print.

dave

[RJRJRJ]

Great answers. Thanks.

While trying to find this info via google, I started reading about the high end CCs with six figure initiation fees, and monthly dues of a couple of grand. If one were to bring a guest, what type of green fees would they be looking at? A couple of hundred bucks like pebble beach or trump? And what would a "cart fee" be like? $20, or jacked up like the regular fees to something like $100/round?

[Titleist1455]

There is no absolute answer to any of these questions. If a club is private, it can do things however they want to (for the most part).


My club's situation is as follows...

Equity initiation of (a lot)

Never been an assessment in the history of the club

Monthly dues up to age 33 are $235, after that, $465

No range fees

Cart fees of $25

Guest fees $125 ($55 for family)

Quarterly locker rental fees $75

No food allowance or golf shop allowance

[bermuda]

Some clubs also have arrangements with other clubs that allow members to play the sister club if their main club is closed due to a tournament or maintenance. Or, membership in one might get you regular playing privileges at the other regardless. That's an arrangement a couple of clubs here are working on.

[larrybud]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1288041682' post='2758826']
Is it completely different depending on the club, or are there usually basic similarities between clubs? You pay thousands of dollars up front and monthly or annual dues, but does that include green fees? What about a guest? Included or do they pay? What additional charges should one expect in addition to initiation and monthly dues?
Thanks
[/quote]

You need to call the clubs in your area for all of these answers. I've been shopping around and have literature from about 6 clubs in my area, and they're all different.

[Bobcat 2]

Most charge a cart fee, bag storage fee, handicap fee, golf assoc fee, fee for tournaments, guest fee and food minimum fee. The upfront fees and monthly dues give you unlimited access to the facilities, but anything else costs a fee.