Last Updated on February 24, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
During my time spent as a golf professional and membership director in South Florida, I was lucky enough to play The Club At Ibis several times. I was invited as a guest of a few different members and thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Club at Ibis. Like all country club reviews we do, I’ll tell you about my experience with the club, who would enjoy being a member here, and fill you in on some of the costs and expenses you can expect as a potential Ibis Country Club member.
The Club at Ibis Review
Located in the heart of West Palm Beach, Ibis is a three golf course facility with championship golf courses, an unparalleled golfing experience, and a variety of amenities. As big as golf is at Ibis, the tennis courts and state of the art fitness center bring added value to all members.
Membership at Ibis is mandatory for all homeowners. You end up with a real sense of community as everybody is part of “the club.”
Ibis is an upscale community club with top facilities and an impressive array of homes. I’ll also personally add that they have a tremendous golf course maintenance crew, as the grounds, courses, and facility always look amazing.
How Much Does The Club At Ibis Cost?
The initiation fee at Ibis is $135,000 for the premier golf membership. This is the most expensive but most feature-rich membership available. You’ll get full access to play as much golf as you want, advanced tee time, and tournament priority.
With the Premier Golf Membership, your dues are right around $20,000 a year, about $3000 a year higher than the other golf membership, Signature Golf.
Signature Golf members have a small greens fee each time they head out to play. This membership is for a less active golfer who still wants free range of all club facilities. Initiation into the Signature membership is $110,000.
If you are looking for a tennis/dining/fitness/pool membership, the $85,000 Tennis Membership seems to be your best bet.
| Membership Type | Initiation Fee | Annual Operating Dues | Annual Capital Dues | Other Notable Fees |
| Premier Golf | $135,000 | $20,998 | $710 | Golf Trail Fee: $1,950 per year, Golf Club Storage Fee: $155, Golf Locker: $375 |
| Signature Golf | $110,000 | $17,376 | $647 | Golf Trail Fee: $1,950 per year, Golf Club Storage Fee: $155, Golf Locker: $375 |
| Tennis | $85,000 | $13,755 | $584 | Tennis/Pickleball Daily Guest and Houseguest Fee: $15 per day, Tennis & Fitness Locker: $150 – $350 |
The Club At Ibis: At A Glance
One of the things that helps Ibis stand out is the fact that there are three golf courses. The club I belong to currently has 6 golf courses, and there is always somewhere to play. Of course, the facility is bigger, and operations are busier, but if your love is golf, you’ll get to play.
Another great benefit here is the golf instruction.
Turn on the golf channel, and you’ll get to see the PGA Director of Instruction, who leads the golf performance team at Ibit. He started there in 1998 and has had an incredible career inside and outside The Club at Ibis.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet Martin Hall and sit in on some seminars, and he’s a tremendous addition to Ibis.
| Feature | Details |
| Location | West Palm Beach, Florida |
| Golf Courses | 3 private 18-hole championship courses Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arthur Hills, and Steve Nicklaus, 3 driving ranges, Golf Performance Center |
| Tennis Courts | 14 Har-Tru tennis courts (Private and group lessons, clinics, tournaments) |
| Pickleball Courts | Available courts (Options for league play and casual games) |
| Wellness Center | State-of-the-art fitness center (Includes cardio and strength training equipment, group exercise studio, and personal training services) |
| Swimming Pools | Resort-style swimming pool and aquatic center (Includes lap lanes, water slide, splash pad for kids, poolside bar and grille) |
| Dining Options | Various dining options including casual and fine dining, The Bistro, The Pub, The Atrium, Amici, Panache |
| Membership Types | Premier Golf, Signature Golf, Tennis |
Golf at Ibis Country Club
There are three championship-length golf courses at Ibis.
- The Legend Course: Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course recently underwent an impressive renovation in 2017 to modernize it for players of all levels.
- The Heritage Course: named the “Most Women-Friendly in America,” is a fair test without forgetting that we are all out there to have fun.
- The Tradition Course: Steve Nicklaus completed this course in 2001; this one has open fairways and small greens and is more of a links style golf course.
Top Tracer Driving Range
When I played at Ibis, this technology wasn’t available. However, a more recent upgrade is adding TopTracer technology at the driving range.
This is the same ball-tracking technology that you see when you watch a PGA Tour event on Sunday. Even if your shots aren’t going half (25%?) as far, it’s fun to work on your game and add a little technology in at the same time.
TopTracer also allows for skill-based games. In other words, you have no excuse to be bad at golf.
Ibis Club vs. The Competition
West Palm Beach is a hot spot if you are in the market to join a country club. If something about Ibis isn’t a fit for you, here are a few others to consider checking out.
| Club | Type | Key Features |
| The Club at Ibis | Private | Three 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arthur Hills, and Steve Nicklaus; 14 Har-Tru tennis courts; fitness center; resort-style swimming pool and aquatic center; various dining options |
| Bear Lakes Country Club | Private | Two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses; dynamic tennis program; exquisite culinary experiences; state-of-the-art clubhouse |
| The Preserve at Ironhorse | Private | 18-hole Arthur Hills designed golf course; top-notch tennis facilities; beautiful swimming pool; brand new fitness center |
| Palm Beach Polo Golf and Country Club | Private | Two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Pete Dye, Ron Gnarl, and Jerry Pate; fitness facilities; Olympic-sized swimming pool; massage therapy; tennis facilities; four state-of-the-art croquet lawns |
| High Ridge Country Club | Private | One of the top 10 private golf courses in Florida; incredible natural beauty; Florida Audubon Certified; brand-new clubhouse |
Pros & Cons of The Club at Ibis
There are both good things and bad about every country club. At Ibis, it’s a matter of finding whether or not this club is the right fit for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Three Golf Courses
Having three golf courses is a huge advantage. However, when you are inquiring about membership, make sure you ask how many members there are in total. Thousands of members spread over three courses is still a lot.
Advanced Fitness & Wellness
You’ll have all the tools you need if you want to maintain your youth. Whatever level of physical fitness you would like to maintain, you can find it at Ibis.
Community Feel
With everyone having to purchase a membership, living at Ibis has a very much community feel. You can tell that these are people living and enjoying their lives and incorporating the club into their daily routine.
Active Social Calendar
You can be as active as you want at The Club at Ibis. It’s not a place where you’ll get bored. If you wish to play golf and be left alone, there could be better fits for you.
It’s Busy At Times
Like any South Florida country club, when you are in the heart of the season, be ready to make some tee time reservations in advance. Getting involved in groups and leagues will help ensure you have a place on the tee sheet.
Not Close To The Beach
If the sunny Florida beaches are your reason for moving to Florida, you’ll have about a 12-mile drive from Ibis to the beach. It’s not long, but certainly not right on the water. Luckily, the course backs up to Grassy Water Nature Preserve, so it’s still a pretty beautiful place to be.
Mandatory Membership Requirements
It’s not really a negative, but if you plan on living in Ibis, you will be paying for the club one way or another. The financial health of a country club is usually quite good when there is mandatory membership, but you could take a little longer to sell your home.
Final Thoughts
Some larger clubs feel like a factory. However, I’ve been impressed with how much of a country club feel it had whenever I’ve played Ibis, considering the size. If you want an active place to spend your retirement years, I would highly recommend it. The dues are perfectly suited for those who have the time in their day to use and enjoy the facilities.
