Last Updated on January 7, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
There are two reasons to understand country club guest fees. The first is for members curious about how much it will cost to have a friend come and play. The second is if you are invited to a club and want to be able to pay your way. As a golf professional and former golf club membership director, I’ll show you how much country club guest fees cost, when the prices change, and what you should know as you are joining a golf club.
How Much Are Country Club Guest Fees
Guest fees at a country club range in price and will be anywhere from $35 to $175 at most country clubs. This may or may not include the golf cart fee or caddy fee. Golf carts usually cost around $25 per person additional, and caddy fees are typically around $70 and up; here is a breakdown of what you can expect.
| Guest Fee | Cost |
| Standard Guest Fee | $75 |
| Guest Fee + Cart Fee | $100 |
| Afternoon Guest Rate | $50 |
| Afternoon Guest Rate + Cart | $75 |
| Family Guest | 50% Off (Full Cart Pricing) |
| Junior Guest – age 12-18 | 50% Off (Full Cart Pricing) |
| High-End Country Club Guest Fees | $125+ |
| Average Country Club Guest Fees | $60-$100 |
| Value Country Club Guest Fees | $35-$55 |
Factors Influencing Country Club Guest Fees
Country club guest fees can vary quite a bit. The main factors that influence country club guest fees are the club’s exclusivity, the time of day you play, the type of membership you have, and even your relation to the person you bring out to play. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Type of Country Club
This one is self-explanatory: higher end country clubs have higher fees when you bring a guest. Expect most higher end private country clubs to have fees over $100 and sometimes over $150.
Why is this so much?
With so many dues paying members, it’s hard to offer a round of golf to a guest for less than the members pay per round. It just becomes a matter of being fair regarding pricing for the product they are getting.
Membership Type
Some golf clubs have sports memberships in addition to golf memberships. These sports memberships may be limited in how many rounds of golf you can play in a year; it’s usually around 8-12.
Other limitations of these memberships include higher fees when you play golf, restricted tee times, and higher guest fees.
Time of Day
Prime time in the world of golf is always in that 8 am-12 pm range. Guest fees are traditionally the highest during this time frame. If you are comfortable with playing in the later afternoon, you can save quite a bit of money.
Many courses realize that you could run out of daylight, so expect fees to go to around 50% after that 2 pm mark.
Day of the Week
One of the clubs I worked at had guest fees priced at 75% if you played on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. The weekdays were slow at this club as there were quite a few working professionals.
Accompanied or Unaccompanied
Let’s say you have a friend coming to town who wants to play your club, but you cannot take them to play. They are considered unaccompanied guests. You can contact the golf staff at your club, explain the situation, and then make sure they are taken care of.
The problem, of course, is that this comes at a cost. Unaccompanied guests typically cost 1.5 times the fee of an accompanied guest.
How To Save on Guest Fees at A Country Club
The best way to save money on guest fees at a country club is to have your guests pay! However, here are the things you can use to try and keep fees down. Sometimes, with business and family, it’s hard to avoid having to pay a large number of guest fees in a year.
Talk to Higher Ups About Guest Packages
See if your golf club will consider a guest package. Guest packages will offer you a discount for buying your guest fees upfront and paying in full. For instance, if normal guest fees are $125, you can buy a package for $1000 that covers ten guests.
Play At the Right Time of Day
Afternoon golf is critical for guest play; if you want to save money, this is the time to do it. Luckily, afternoon golf is usually a good solution for those who work.
Walk
Cart fees and caddy fees add up rather quickly. If you have some athletic and fit friends who don’t mind walking, it can save you a bit of money.
Member Referral Programs
Finally, talk to the membership director at your golf club. If you are having a friend come to play that you truly believe has a chance of joining the club, the member referral program is a great option to consider.
Rules and Restrictions Impacting Country Club Guests
Country club guests are very often restricted to a certain number of rounds of golf per year.
Let’s say you join a club, and the dues are $15,000 per year. You are paying your dues in full, but your brother-in-law starts coming out to play every Saturday morning for the $100 guest fee. He stays for lunch after and even hits a few balls on the range.
He’s getting nearly the same experience that every other $15,000 dues paying member gets a tremendous discount.
Therefore, most clubs restrict you from having the same person out more than 10 or 12 times per year, and it’s a good rule.
How to Handle Paying A Country Club Member Back For A Round of Golf
If you were a guest at a private country club, it could get awkward when it comes to paying your host back for a round of golf. Many country clubs will not accept payment from a non-member. Here are a few thoughts to consider instead:
- Reciprocate and have them play at your club the next time
- Use Venmo and send them the money for a round of golf
- Purchase a gift certificate to a restaurant, a new golf shirt from their shop, or a box of Titleist Pro V1 to thank them for hosting you.
- If you are playing at a tipping club, offer to do the tipping and be generous (it’s not $1.00 to have your clubs washed anymore)
Final Thoughts
Before joining a country club, it’s essential to inquire about fees. You may find initiation and dues affordable, and then the fees are more than you can handle. Be open and honest with your friends and family about the costs of guest fees. Most people want to pay their way, and they are happy to do so to enjoy a great golf experience.
