Last Updated on May 9, 2023 by Britt Olizarowicz
You have finally decided to apply to the local country club for membership. Although I’ll never go as far as to say joining a country club is like signing the paperwork on a mortgage, there are usually a few John Hancocks you will need.
In addition to signing off on your new membership and your ability to pay for it, the club will often run a credit check.
Some potential members find this incredibly frustrating and maybe even a bit unnecessary. However, as a former membership director at a country club, I can tell you the country club membership credit check is necessary.
Does a country club run a credit check before I join?
The majority of country clubs have decided to run credit checks before letting members join. Of course there are exceptions to this in situations with large initiation fees, dues paid ahead of time, family continuing a membership for the next generation etc.
However, if you are planning on joining a country club, and your grandfathers are not the founders of the club, be prepared for a credit check as part of your application.
Why do country clubs run credit checks?
Country clubs run credit checks to ensure that they are not going to have a problem with theft of club services. Let’s face it, joining a country club is a want not a need. If you can’t afford it, it’s not a problem, but don’t sign up.
I’ve worked at country clubs that do not require credit checks and those that do. I have found that the country clubs that require credit checks have a much easier time collecting their money at the end of the month than those that do.
Also, let’s remember that most of the spending done at a country club is billed for at the end of the month. If you decide to run up a big club bill but you have no way to pay for it, the club is out a lot of money.
Country clubs surprisingly tend to run on slim margins, not collecting money is a major problem.
As a club member, you should be glad that the clubs run a credit check. In the end you don’t want to be the one stuck paying for mistakes.
What does my credit score need to be to join a country club?
A good credit score will typically have to be around 700 or above to be considered good enough for a country club. However, some clubs have lowered that number to 650. Any score closer to 800 will be considered an easy yes.
In most situations, even if your credit score is not all that high, you can still explain why it is lower and give some information that could help the club trust you.
Let’s say, for instance, your credit card was just stolen, and you have some issues that flagged your account. Maybe there was an issue with an outstanding payment that you were unaware of, or a joint account from an ex. Both of these could still be dragging your credit down?
The Pros and Cons of Country Club Membership Credit Check
If you look at this country club membership credit check policy and feel life it’s unfair, it may pay to see the other side of it. There are upsides and downsides to the membership joining process. It’s all about how you manage them and how you look at it.
Pros
- More is known about the financial stability of the membership
Clubs have a better idea as to if they are going to need to cut the budget next year, bring on more staff or build out that second story on the clubhouse. Credit checks give some indication of the strength of the club.
- Long term health of the club is easily assessed
Not only is it important to understand where the club will be in 6 months, but also in 6 years and in 16 years. The credit and financial strength of members can give some indication of this.
- Shows a sign of commitment
If you are not concerned about credit checks, and the club running one before you join is not a problem for you, it shows you are committed to the club. It’s easy to act like you are ready to join a club. However, it’s another to actually cut the check and start to pay.
- Country club membership is a marathon not a sprint
Long term financial wellness of country club members is important. It’s not really the initiation fee payment that worries clubs. Clubs want to know that you can pay for your membership not just now. The credit check will better determine if you can ten years from now when both of your kids are in college!
Cons
- Credit score is not always an accurate reflection of financial situation
In certain situations the credit score does not properly represent the financial strength of a golf member. However, the good news is that most of this will go to a board where they can properly assess this situation with a group of people.
- No leniency in this policy could actually cost a club some good members
If the board is real strict and won’t think outside the box for those with less than stellar credit ratings, there could be a negative impact for the club. Some members may choose to join somwhere else.
- What is the scale for good credit?
The scale for good credit to join a country club is not universal. Therefore one club may say a score of over 750 is necessary where another may make it over 650. This presents a problem for some prospects.
What can I do to make sure my credit is good enough to join a country club?
If you are ready to join a country club but don’t want your creidt score to keep it from happening, here are a few of the things you can do to make sure your credit score is high enough. Also, don’t hesitate to talk to a trusted financial advisor.
- Pay down some debt
- Run a credit report to figure out if there are errors
- Pay bills on time
- Make sure you have some credit history
- Be open and honest about anything that could come up on the report
- Do your own math before heading to the club office
