Last Updated on March 10, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
The terms golf club and country club are often used interchangeably. However, they are not quite the same thing. If you are wondering about the difference between golf club and country club, we have you covered. As a former golf professional and membership director, this was a question I was asked quite often. When people are joining a club they want to know if it’s a golf club or a country club and how this impacts them.
What Is The Difference Between Golf Club and Country Club?
A golf club is a private golf club geared toward golfers. It typically features a great golf course, minimal facilities and a core group of people that enjoy the game. A country club is typically also a private club and it will have everything from golf to tennis to pickleball to swimming. Country clubs have more extensive amenities than the average golf club.
Golf clubs tend to be a bit more refined, upscale, and specifically revolving around the game of golf. Country Clubs can be more family oriented.
When you join either of the two clubs, it is very important to consider all of the amenities included.
Amenities of A Golf Club
Many golf clubs just have a golf course. However, most will have a restaurant and even a locker room.
These clubs are usually very well equipped when it comes to practice facilities for golfers, and the golf course conditions are often pristine.
Some golf clubs will have caddies and will not even allow a golf cart.
Amenities of a Country Club
Unlike the golf club, the country club can have a wide range of amenities. Some of the most popular that we see are court sports like pickleball, tennis, and bocce. In addition, a country club often has a swimming pool.
Dining at a country club is often more involved and will have several different places to eat. The extra amenities at a country club are one of the biggest differences between the two types of clubs.
These differences lead to diverse groups of people that will join each type of club.
What Is Better, A Golf Club or A Country Club?
The differences between golf club types don’t make one or the other better. I’ve spent time at both golf and country clubs and it’s really more about appreciating the differences and realizing which one may be better for your needs.
Here are a few tips I’ve used to help people looking to join a golf club.
Join A Country Club If . . .
- You are not the only one who is going to use the club; country clubs are built around families spending time together and enjoying all that the club has to offer.
- Playing golf is important to you, but it’s just one of the activities that you like to participate in.
- Social events are something that you feel you will benefit from.
- Country clubs can sometimes be less money than golf clubs and a little easier to get; this is, of course, entirely dependent on the two clubs that you are comparing.
Join A Golf Club If. . .
- You can’t get enough golf.
- Golf course conditions are the most important factor to you in joining a club.
- Spending time practicing and working on your golf game is your major concern.
- You already belong to another club that has the tennis, swimming, and dining that you are looking for.
What makes a country club a country club?
A country club is a privately owned club that has a mix of recreational and entertainment activities in addition to golf. Country clubs often have a membership quota and a membership process that requires initiation and sponsorship.
Most country clubs will offer golf, swimming, dining, tennis, pickleball, and even bocce. Some country clubs also have fitness facilities.
What’s the point of a country club?
The point of a country club is to have a place to spend time with friends, work on your golf game, make social connections, and enjoy hours of entertainment. Many people refer to their country club as a Disneyland for adults.
If you can’t justify the money spent in doing these things, than joining a club is not a perfect option for you.
Why would someone join a country club over a golf club?
Most of the time, joining a country club over a golf club happens because you have a family with a variety of interests. It’s rare that everyone in your household is a big fan of golf. Country clubs can give everyone something to do and great facilities to use.
Golf clubs typically have wonderful golf course conditions and a close-knit atmosphere among the members, but you may miss out on some of the amenities.
However, the main reasons people choose one club over another are proximity and pricing.
What is more fun a golf club or a country club?
Both types of clubs can be equally fun. The key for most people is to find the feel that they are looking for in a club. Some clubs can be a little proper. Others will be about parties and fun times.
When you take a tour of the club, it’s more than appropriate to ask these questions.
Membership directors that are good at what they do will want you to fit in at the club. I remember trying to be brutally honest with people that were joining the club. We wanted them to be lifelong members.
In addition, some people define fun as a day on the golf course, whereas others will say a day spent at the pool bar is more fun.
What is easier to get into a country club or a golf club?
A country club and a golf club have membership requirements that will require you to go through a joining process. The process to join the club can take anywhere from a few days to a few months. Country clubs and golf clubs will be equally hard to get into.
I have found that clubs with higher initiation fees and smaller membership quotas are often the hardest to get into. When you have a large facility with room for many members, the joining process can be easier.
Are there country clubs without golf?
A country club does not need to have golf, but most do. Country clubs have a range of recreational activities for their members, and they can include golf, tennis, pickleball, and more. Most country clubs also have dining options for their members.
What Is Better for a family, a golf club or country club?
A country club is the better option for a family as there are plenty of activities and opportunities for socialization at a country club. When you analyze the difference between either type of club, the number of amenities is often the biggest difference.
Other differences include the way people act and carry themselves at the club. Many family orientated country clubs have a more laid-back feel that is welcoming to families.
Families with older children that enjoy golf may like the golf club. Golf clubs can be quieter and allow for easier tee times. This can also be appealing to those with a family.
How are country clubs and golf clubs similar?
Country clubs and golf clubs still have some of the same requirements for joining. In addition, a country club and a golf club will also have a membership base that had to join the club in some capacity.
We gave you numerous examples of the difference between the two types of clubs; here are some of the similarities.
- Require monthly dues, initiation fee, and other payments to be a member
- Most country clubs and golf clubs and all golf clubs have golf as an option
- Country clubs and golf clubs offer great golf course conditions
- Families are encouraged at most golf and country clubs
- Some golf clubs will still have tennis and fitness, just like a country club will
Final Thoughts
As you begin the process of looking for a golf club or country club to join, I hope that these answers helped to make you feel more confident about your decision. The major difference between the two clubs is more about the individual facility than anything else. Check out all the amenities offered, how many people can join, and whether or not the feel or camaraderie is the right fit for you and your family.
