Last Updated on January 7, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
One of the great things about golf club membership is that each one is different. If you are an avid golfer, you know that no two golf clubs you have been a part of are the same. At the same time, no two private clubs have the exact cost. As a former membership director and professional golfer, I’ve got an excellent handle on how much golf membership costs. So if you are considering joining a club and want to go in with a relative idea of what it will cost you, here is what you need to know. While I give you all the details on a golf membership cost, I’ll also provide some information on how to pay for it.
How Much is A Golf Membership?
A golf membership will have initiation fees from $0 to $500,000+ and dues from $250 to $1500 per month. In addition to the initiation fees and dues, some memberships also have cart fees, locker room fees, guest fees, and more that will be paid.
One of the most significant factors in golf membership costs is the type of club you are joining. I’ll break down the pricing for value, average, and premium country clubs.
Value-Based Country Club
Value-based country clubs focus on providing a full membership for a fair price. These clubs have lower annual dues. Full golf may only cost $300 or so a month, with junior membership being nearly half the cost.
These private courses may also be semi-private. Value-based country clubs also have things like a swimming pool, tennis, and pickleball, but the facilities are not usually as high-end. Another thing you may notice with a value-based country club is the number of members. With lower fees, the membership tends to be a little more crowded.
| Membership Type | Initiation Fee (Avg.) | Monthly Dues (Avg.) |
| Social or Dining | $500 – $2,000 | $50 – $150 |
| Tennis or Sports | $1,000 – $3,000 | $100 – $200 |
| Full Golf | $2,000 – $5,000 | $200 – $300 |
| Junior Golf | $500 – $1,500 | $75 – $150 |
| Individual Golf | $1,500 – $4,000 | $150 – $250 |
| Family Golf | $2,500 – $6,000 | $200 – $350 |
| Out-of-State Golf | $1,000 – $3,000 | $100 – $200 |
| Seasonal Golf | $1,000 – $2,500 | $150 – $250 |
Average-Priced Country Club
The average-priced country club has dues that are typically around $400 to $500 a month. Initiation fees for clubs like this range from around $5000 to $15000. Average priced country club tends to include unlimited golf with no outside access to the public.
In other words these are usually not semi private club facilities. As you can see from the chart below, social and sports membership are priced considerably less, allowing people to get an idea of what the club has to offer, but not have access to the driving range, golf course, and any other practice facilities like a performance center.
| Membership Type | Initiation Fee (Avg.) | Monthly Dues (Avg.) |
| Social or Dining | $2,000 – $5,000 | $100 – $250 |
| Tennis or Sports | $3,000 – $7,000 | $150 – $300 |
| Full Golf | $5,000 – $15,000 | $300 – $500 |
| Junior Golf | $1,000 – $3,000 | $100 – $200 |
| Individual Golf | $3,500 – $8,000 | $250 – $400 |
| Family Golf | $6,000 – $12,000 | $350 – $600 |
| Out-of-State Golf | $2,000 – $6,000 | $150 – $300 |
| Seasonal Golf | $2,000 – $5,000 | $200 – $350 |
Premium Country Club
Once you get past the average priced golf club category, you move towards the premium country club. The range of premium golf membership is enormous. You can have quiet private golf courses with less than 150 members and extensive facilities with 6 golf courses and thousands of members. Expect to pay $700+ per month for a premium country club.
In addition, new members will pay initiation fees that generally start around $20,000 and increase to over $200,000. At an excellent country club you can expect higher levels of customer service, easy access to tee times, excellent golf course conditions, and maybe even some fun incentives like hosting national championships or events.
Membership Type | Initiation Fee (Avg.) | Monthly Dues (Avg.) |
| Social or Dining | $5,000 – $20,000 | $200 – $500 |
| Tennis or Sports | $7,000 – $25,000 | $250 – $600 |
| Full Golf | $15,000 – $100,000+ | $500 – $1,000+ |
| Junior Golf | $2,500 – $10,000 | $450 – $750 |
| Individual Golf | $8,000 – $30,000 | $350 – $700 |
| Family Golf | $10,000 – $50,000+ | $400 – $800+ |
| Out-of-State Golf | $3,000 – $15,000 | $200 – $500 |
| Seasonal Golf | $5,000 – $20,000 | $250 – $500 |
How To Pay for Country Club Memberships?
With membership fees nearing $1000 a month and initiation fees the size of a down payment for a home, many people wonder how you can pay for golf memberships. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
- Most country clubs do not allow you to pay for anything with a credit card; this includes yearly dues and fees. The credit card fees are just too high to incorporate into their budget.
- Initiation fees typically need to be a bank check, and they are often paid in one lump sum. Talk to the membership direction when purchasing your membership to see if you can spread your payments over the first few years. Some will do this for free; others will charge a fee.
- Many country clubs will do a credit check before they allow you full access to a club. Country clubs are skeptical of new people and whether they will be a problem when it comes to paying bills and staying on top of their fees and costs.
How Do Social Memberships Compare to Golf Memberships?
Social memberships allow you access to social events and dining at the country club. These membership do not allow use of the facilities like golf or tennis, and they are typically the most affordable of the group. Suppose you are not currently a golfer but plan to become one.
In that case, this type of membership can often be upgraded so that you can eventually move up to the membership category you are interested in.
How do Sports Memberships Compare to Golf Memberships?
Sports memberships are usually like a miniature version of a full golf membership with unlimited access. Most sports memberships allow you the use of tennis courts, pickleball, fitness facilities, social events, and dining. However, you may also get a few rounds of golf and access to the practice range on the days you play golf.
Sports members are often subject to greens fees in addition to cart fees. For those who play golf just a few times per year, this can be a flexible membership option that works quite well.
Individual vs. Family Golf Memberships
The individual golf membership category is not nearly as possible as it once was. This was initially set up for couples who wanted access to social facilities, but only one of the partners played golf. Golf courses quickly learned that this allowed single people a bit of an advantage.
Some couples don’t play nearly as much golf as a single person can, so most membership options went to family or full golf. Family membership usually allows everyone in the family to be a member until they reach the age of 24. Your annual membership fee is not higher if you have 2 or 4 kids, making the family golf membership an excellent value for a more prominent family.
Golf Membership Cost
Before you invest in a golf membership, there are a few additional things to ask yourself about the cost of membership and whether or not it’s the right option for you and your family. I wouldn’t join a club without first knowing these things.
- Detailed fees, assessments, capital expenses, and guest fees for the club, you want to know any extra cost that could come your way.
- How much do the dues increase on an annual basis? (1% is much different than 5 or 10%)
- Will your initial fee include membership forever, or do you need to upgrade at some point?
- What is the most restrictive membership that allows you to play golf? Least restrictive? Know your options!
- How long is the wait list to get into the club? (this may give you an idea as to your negotiating power)
Final Thoughts
Don’t even play a prospective round of golf at a country club until you know you have a general idea as to how much the membership will cost. Membership prices vary considerably from one club to the next, and in recent years, with the increase in golfers looking to get out on courses, the prestigious clubs have raised their fees even higher. Ensure you play enough golf to get the best possible value from your membership. I’ve seen golfers who switched from municipal courses to private clubs and saved money. Having a home course has its benefits, especially if you spend a lot of time on it. If you ever have questions about your application forms, what it’s like to be a first time member, or whether or not your membership offer is a good deal, feel free to reach out.
