Last Updated on January 8, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
If you got a new job moving you away from your club, or you simply can’t justify the expense of membership anymore, you may need to move on. Learning how to get out of a country club membership can be a little tricky.
In fact, this is something that you should be looking into BEFORE you join the club. I will give you some of the best advice I have as a former membership director at a private country club and ensure that you go through this process in the fairest way possible.
Can You Get Out Of A Country Club Membership?
The short answer here is yes; the long answer is that it may cost you. Unfortunately, joining a country club can be a major purchase, and because of that, there are implications when you leave the club.
The biggest one?
Walking away from that initiation fee. Unless you are an equity member (with a transferrable equity membership), then it may be difficult to recoup any of the money you invested when you first joined the club.
Before you make any big decisions about moving to another club or taking a “break” from your membership, this is one of the key pieces of advice you will want to investigate.
5 Ways To Get Out Of A Country Club Membership
Here are five ways in which you can get out of a country club membership. Again, you must talk to the membership director or club director to get more specific details about your situation.
Resign and Walk Away
One way to get out of the country club membership is to simply walk away from it. Of course, this will probably cost you the rest of your dues for the year, and you will likely forfeit any money that you had put into the club.
Some equity memberships will allow you your money back when a new person joins the club.
However, I’ll warn you that there is usually a long waiting list for this.
Resignation and walking away often happen at the end of a golf club’s fiscal year. For some, this
is December 31st, but it really can be anytime that the club decides. Make sure you know when your deadline is for resignation; if you don’t, you may be responsible for dues for another year.
Transfer To A Family Member (or Friend?)
In some instances, you can take your membership and transfer it to a family member or a friend.
This is often a popular option for high-end private country clubs with limited memberships. As parents age, they give their membership to their children, and they will simply become guests of the children if and when they play golfer.
This is a great way for a membership to a difficult to afford and join the club to be kept in the family for years to come.
Other memberships that may not necessarily be equity may allow you to transfer to a friend if you can guarantee that dues will be paid, and they will simply replace your revenue the day you leave.
It really depends on the current financial situation of the golf club. Finding a new member is hard, but if you have already found one for them, it may be easier to justify this switch. Maybe your friend can afford the $700 dues a month but can’t come up with the $15,000 initiation fee. If the club wants to keep this dues money, they may allow your friend to assume your membership.
Negotiating With Club Management Or The Board of Directors
There can be some gray areas when trying to get out of a country club membership.
The bylaws are in place to protect you and the club management and board of directors.
However, many issues at a club can go to a vote. If, for some reason, there is some type of issue that justifies you leaving the club, you may want to talk to the board.
Most board meetings are held once a month. They require you to submit paperwork or minutes before the start of the meeting. You may also have to attend the meeting to see what kind of deals can be worked out.
I’ve seen some deals made to help people in difficult financial situations or those that have recently lost a spouse. However, it’s hard for the club to deviate too much from the bylaws.
You wouldn’t think highly of a board that made up its rules.
Stop Paying (Don’t Do This!)
Of course, you can also get out of your country club membership by simply stopping your payments.
This is a bad idea.
You will lose access to the club almost immediately. Most clubs cut off access after 30 or 60 days of non-payment. In addition, you will create a name for yourself on the way out, making it hard for you to get into any other golf club you may be considering.
In addition, because you signed membership paperwork stating you would be paying dues, the club can come after you for any money you still owe.
Legal Action (Buckle Up For This One)
If you feel your country club has done something to you or your family that warrants legal action, you can get out of your membership by hiring a lawyer.
Be prepared for this, as it may not be worth your time or money. The club also has a strong legal team to work with to ensure they come out on top.
I highly recommend trying to take the high road and work with the club civilly before taking this to court. Court battles are long, and they can be stressful. Of course, if you were truly wronged and you have a strong case, go get what is rightfully yours.
Can I Pause A Country Club Membership?
Every country club has its own rules regarding a break in your membership. Most of the time, the board of directors will make this decision on a personal basis.
The most common reason to grant a leave of absence in the club is a medical issue. If someone
is undergoing a difficult medical battle and knows they will now use the facilities for a few months or years, the club will often put the membership on hold.
This means that the initiation fee or equity membership is not lost, dues are not owed, but access to the club is also denied.
Many country clubs grant a one-time-only leave of absence. If there was no limit to this, you could have issues with snowbirds taking a leave of absence in their NY golf club while they head to Florida and vice versa.
That trick won’t work.
How Do I Resign From A Country Club?
Every country club I have participated in requires a letter of resignation. The letter states that you will no longer be a member of the club, and it gives a date for your departure from the club.
This is placed in your file and used as the official record that you are no longer a country club member.
You must remember that this letter must be submitted before the club’s deadline for resignations.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line here is that you can get out of a country club membership, but it’s certainly much easier to stay a member. Most times, it costs you some money to leave the club, which is why it’s so important to choose the right club from the start.
I also highly recommend looking at the procedures for leaving the club or taking a leave of absence prior to joining. This information is incredibly important.
