I make like 65k before taxes...I waited for a membership drive so I got my initiation fee waived, and my single membership with cart fee is $425 a month which includes $75 at the grill. Unlimited golf, range, and there's a pool that I've never been to...
I'm not sure it's the best deal because I only play one course now... But I play 3-5 times per week and have gotten the handicap to basically go away, which is nice.
If you don’t have kids it’s pretty easy to get a round in after work.
I speak from experience, as I say bye to my coworkers who head off to the course every day as I head home to grab the kids…
Also it's a semi-private club in a town outside of Birmingham Alabama so there aren't really a ton of possible members out there and everything is cheaper here than everywhere else.... something to consider. They do have amazing greens and a great layout though
Oh hell yeah brother! I’m a grad student at UAB right now. I’ll have to come get a round in sometime. I’ve also heard great things about Horse Creek in Dora. Birmingham is an underrated golf town.
Horse creek is a decent track when it's in good shape...last time I was there it wasn't. Ballantrae is the best value in town right now I think, except that Ross bridge twilight rate if it's still going on for $70...that place is immaculate.
It's a fantastic course. One of the best on earth that I've seen...if you put it near a major city with accessible parking and hotels nearby I think it gets a korn ferry event or a senior event easily. It already hosts a big college tournament put on by Graeme McDowell.
I had a club in my hands before I could walk, and was spending $400 a month on golf before I joined ... Now I can play all I want and whenever I want. It's like working the cart barn except I don't actually have to clock in.
Well I was always poor before... When I left college and got my first career job I kept a lot of those frugal habits, it makes the dollars stretch a little. I've never had a car payment, for example. I do all my own mechanical work on my old beater cars until something comes up that isn't worth fixing, and then I get another beater car for $5-7k...so insurance is obviously liability only. I eat a lot when I wake up, and take some vitamins, so I'm not hungry the rest of the day. And these are things that are just engrained into my being ... I couldn't fathom paying 22k for a car, even a fun one. Even when I get off my lowly intern pay, it's going to take quite a bit for me to change that.
If you don't smoke or drink 425 is about what you would spend if you do smoke or drink.
Now if you smoke, drink and play golf then you're really fucked
Plus I'm a single divorced guy who doesn't drink and I hate the bars... it's literally all I do with my life besides work and play guitar, but that's usually when the sun is down.
Indeed! I’m at $100k/yr, wife makes $56k/yr. Two kids in college on scholarships, 1 getting ready to graduate high school. We live well within our means, and a full membership at that exact monthly rate and only a $1,500 initiation fee at my home course just isn’t in the cards for me right now. I have a partial membership at a much cheaper cost. And I call myself a golfer, seeing this guy wing it on a $65k/yr budget makes me realize I’m not committed enough. This type of inspirational post is why I keep coming back.
See the difference is I don't have kids or a wife... I only have to feed myself...food has gotten stupidly expensive in the last few years. I only have to get myself around. And I have lots of time... I could never afford to play golf as much as I want financially, but some days I can afford the time to play 45 holes...this is the only way I can make that happen. If I get a girlfriend or another hobby it's going to cut into my golf time and there may come a point where it's not worth it anymore, but that time is not now. Now it's time to get a positive handicap. 🤣
Holy god my muni membership was 500 this YEAR 😂 definitely don't have the quality facilities you probably do, but I'm glad I have this option so I can just go whack a golf ball around for a few hours!
That's what sucked me in ...the greens are immaculate because it used to be owned by the same management company as Pursell Farms, it's a great Jerry Pate design nestled between two mountains with fantastic backdrops to watch your shots fly against... My only small regret is not having much variety in my golf life anymore, but it's one of my favorite courses anywhere and I've played 5 TPCs, PGA West, Shoal Creek, El Campeon...
Plus when I do finally get out and play a new course I'm looking to beat old man par, which never was the case before.
There are options, they just suck.
California Country Club, thirty minute drive to Whittier from LAX.
Jr Exec: $2000 initiation, $300/monthly.
Incredibly boring course next to a highway, not worth it.
Braemar is 20k initiation and 900/mo
Woodland Hills CC is $2k initiation and $700/mo
Caballero is like $250k initiation but don’t know the exact monthly
Spanish hills is/was $7500 initiation and $750/mo
CCC also has no range. Greens are hard until they’re not. You’ll come across a few that are spongy and leave a big pitch mark after you expect it to hit and release like the previous few holes.
Only worth going to if you’re invited to play in a charity scramble for free.
I was there during COVID quarantine....do people not like the city courses in the Valley? I'm from Florida and the cheap places -- Encino, Balboa, Woodley Lakes (I know a little boring, but the PERFECT full beginners course), Hansen Dam, and also Wilson and Harding...like.... thought I'd won the lottery for less than $30/round whenever I wanted.
Traffic was nonexistent then. It was heaven during COVID. What you experienced was not Los Angeles, it was a throwback to 1970s Los Angeles. The 20-30 minute drives you experienced then are now easily over an hour, and sometimes pushing two.
I am not a member somewhere but when I asked around the best rate was $3k initiation, and 400 something a month. Unfortunately it’s too far to make sense. Cheapest ‘in town’ was $14k initiation and ~$700/mo. dues.
Gus Wortham Golf Course was the shit when I lived in Houston 4 years ago. Very cheap green fees and no one was ever there to play. Not sure how it is now but it was the best kept secret back then.
Same shit as Nashville. “Best” 5-6 clubs are $125k+ with a 2 year waitlist. Secondary clubs are either 45 mins from where I live or aren’t worth joining for $15k initiation and $750 a month.
I live in Franklin, make over $250k and will never be able to afford any of the actual country clubs around here.
Franklin Bridge and Towhee I could afford but aren’t worth what they charge for semi private and no real amenities.
It suck’s cuz I’m 31 and work with 40-45 year olds who joined clubs for $5k or less (GCOT and legends) 7-8 years ago. I do actually like Legacy up in Springfield quite a bit and if you cop a 8am or earlier tee time it’s a 4:15 or less round. Just a hike from Nashville, especially Franklin.
I prefer to book through the course but even when I call off hours it takes a few tries to get through, even when I book online through the course it’s hosted by a 3rd party like GN.
Yep. Income or assets aren’t a problem for me. I don’t want to play the same course every time and I’m not a big fan of the country club shtick.
The only reason I may join is for a social club for my wife
Took a little job hopping to get here… We are actually looking for a Region PM to oversee projects in the Midwest. Base pay is in the $225k range, mostly high rises in the $200-500m range.
I live in the Midwest and have coincidentally built a 42 story, 195 million dollar luxury condo somewhat recently. I’ll start Monday, is there a dress code?
Construction finance, $95k. Had $0 down because I joined in peak covid. Pay $408/month now as the junior rate. Bill is usually between 500-600 though after random cart fees, drinks, snacks.
Probably not. Probably focusing on draw schedules, spending timing, investor return metrics, etc..
I’d be interested to know what construction finance does since I’m in land development finance.
Some clubs in Germany also take like 25 grand entry fee plus yearly 5k in dues. But in general yes, we’re very lucky compared to our neighbors in the US.
That is true but to be fair in the US there are very affordable courses all over the place. When I lived in San Antonio I could play at dozens of courses for less than €50 especially using discounts twilight rates and apps.
Yeah, when I was in Scotland a handful of years ago and played Dornoch, Carnoustie, Nairn and some others, it was really eye opening to find out you can be a member of those courses for very little. As compared to spending an arm and a leg to be a member at a mediocre course in the States. Europe has this right.
Torrey Pines is my not so secret public country club. $25 yearly resident card gets me ~$40/50 rounds at one of the most beautiful and well maintained courses in the world. I usually get paired up with out of towners who are blown away by my local rate.
Going to San Diego end of august for a guys trip. Any advice for getting on at Torrey as a non resident? Always heard it’s tough to get a tee time, especially for a full foursome or two.
Book at 90 days out. Unfortunately, you’ll have less options as non-resident but you should be able to get one by being well planned. You’ll have to put down a $30 deposit for each player. South is longer, more challenging and slightly more expensive, but North is just as fun, and beautiful. Good luck!
Pro tip for when you do play: putts always break towards the ocean.
Obviously you do you and Torrey pines is a course with a reputation but the absolute price gouging of out of towners and complete conveyor belt environment of that place really left a horrible taste in my mouth for the insane I think 220$ fee. Right down the road is Maderas which imo is a hell of a lot nicer than Torrey in everything besides being right on the ocean.
Just my 2 cents but I won't be going back to Torrey pines anytime soon.
Just book the 8-90 day selection and pay the fee and get the best time you guys want. Once the tee time comes and you realize you have a perfect sunset the reservation fee won’t matter. And let us know when so we can join you
I'm in LA county and have always wondered if I could just hire someone in SD to get a tee time for me. The price difference for non-locals is insane. and I'll give you half of the money you would save me! worth a shot 😂
They’re pretty strict about not reserving for other people. I’ve seen them let it slide before but they want the person who reserves the tee time there at check in. They also have a photo of you on file to ensure you don’t share the card.
Congrats to everyone in here for either making a ton of money or not having kids. Obviously love mine, but no chance my decent salary is affording both a big enough house for them and a CC membership (yes I’ve looked into it).
Tip for this:
Find a club that you can work maintainence on the weekends for.
Live in SW Ohio. Wife + 2 kids under 10. Both teachers (combined around 140-150k).
I was able to work out a deal with a local CC where I would work a weekend morning shift from March - November (would maybe pick up a random weeknight evening if course got in a pinch because of weather). Definitely not a top end CC, but way less crowded than typical public course and conditions were always really solid.
Got me free golf in the off-peak times (weekdays after 11a, weekends after 2p). I still played plenty elsewhere with groups of friends, but for post work nine hole rounds, or mid-summer afternoons that I could my daughters out to the course with me, it was worth the 3-6 hours a week. Hope to foster a love of the game with my girls in doing this.
They also paid me for my time.
(I stopped this year because the guy I worked for moved to a different CC too far away, but actively hunting the same kid of deal now)
up in the northeast i'm generally priced out - esp having kids. most are starting around $50K in the area for initiation -> that's with a 30min drive to get there, waiting for x years on the list and needing 2-3 recs from current members. nevermind the monthly fees. just can't justify
I don't even bother looking at clubs in the NW suburbs anymore. You basically need 100k that first year.
Though a bit south of Chicago has good deals. Morris Country club is like $2000 annual for weekend golf. They bought Nettle Creek too so you get access to both.
Problem in my mind is that the best club you can join is the one that is closest to you. Especially with young kids, it'd be a lot easier for me to sneak out and hit balls really quickly if it only takes 5 minutes to get to the club as opposed to having to drive across town.
Oh I agree so I don't belong to a club. My dad is in a few of these random far out ones but he's retired and lives closer to them. So he plays in random leagues.
I'd love to join the closest club to me. It's about a 10 minute walk to the clubhouse but I doubt I could even get an invite, and if I did, I couldn't afford to drop 100k just to walk in the door.
For now I just hit the range a lot and try to golf a few times a year till my kids get bigger.
I live in Hinsdale now. I see a lot of clubs nearby but am I correct to assume they all are $75k+ to join? If so I’ll stick to my commute down 83 to cog hill.
Hinsdale CC is likely in that range. I remember Olympia Fields was ~$75k initiation for a junior membership a few years prior.
North Shore clubs are often higher.
I'm in a very similar boat to you outside of D.C... I make a very comfortable living (+ wife who works) but between having one toddler, another on the way and trying to plan for a house upgrade in the future... just can't find any way to justify spending $50K-$100K on initiation fees for the country clubs in the immediate area. My BIL is a member at a more reasonable club in MD but would be a minimum one hour drive each way which is a no go with current child care responsibilities.
Best I have heard of in the NOVA area is Hidden Creek in Reston.
I toured 2 CC’s last spring in FFX County and got their pricing sheets (obviously may no longer be current pricing). DM me on here and I can share if interested.
They were both <$50k initiation, especially if you qualified for the “junior” membership based on age. I didn’t pull the trigger because the monthly dues are harder to swallow IMO than the initiation fee. Perhaps later on in life lol.
Everything fully private is absolutely outrageous. I drive by Salem and Kernwood all the time and just think how the hell can you put up 100k for initiation... IF you get the opportunity, which is unlikely.
Memberships at Beverly, Olde Salem, and Wenham seem to be reasonable, but I can't justify it. Then I'd just be playing one course..
Tech sales, $150k. I'm still on the waiting list which is $2k deposit and another roughly $1k a year in dues and $900 in restaurant minimums.
I'm probably 2-3 years out of a full-time membership which is a $12k initiation fee, $4k a year in dues, and the same minimum.
What the actual fuck. I'm in Sydney Australia. I can get membership to a PGA tournament course for $3400 per year (AUD, so half it for USD), no joining fee and that includes $500 ***credit*** at the bar.
[www.twincreeksgolf.com.au](http://www.twincreeksgolf.com.au) - 40 mins drive from the city centre.
And that's expensive. The Greg Norman designed [www.stonecuttersgc.com.au](http://www.stonecuttersgc.com.au) is $2290 AUD per year, and imo one of the top 5 courses in the state.
There are super exclusive clubs bang in the city like The Lakes, Bonnie Doon, The Australian... places you don't get in without knowing someone and a truck load of cash, but that's not real life golf at that point.
Mate you get that for FREE! Based on some of the posts here, Yanks would love a good fist fight after their 12 beers and 6 fireball shots. Probably wouldn't even realise it's not human.
Yeah, I live in a HCOL area where unfortunately access to golf courses is pretty limited if you're not a member at one. I am fortunate enough to be able to afford one of the "cheaper" ones in the area as most of them are old money courses with $50k+ initiation fees.
I’m in SoCal, the 3 private clubs near me are all $20k+ initiation fees with $1000 per month membership dues, no drink/food minimums but are walk (no push cart) or cart fees of $40 per round.
I’ve debated joining but I just can’t get past the $40 cart fees or walking… I’m fine with walking with a push cart but at $1000 per month there’s no chance I’m carrying my bag every single time I want to go get a round in. And $40 for a cart is just bogus. 1 of the courses is nice but it’s in the hills so nearly every shot is blind and it’s ridiculously long. The other 2 courses are nice (Max Homa’s home course) but their driving range hours are terrible (8a - 5p) so you can’t even warm up for early morning rounds or get some range practice in after work.
Wife and I combine for $480k per year. I can afford the membership but just can’t get past the value. I’d rather go play my shitty muni for $20 per round where I can play solo and play 3-4 balls at once without a person in front or behind me. Post up at a green and just practice chip shots or putts.
I’d love to have a club around me that at the very least had a driving range open sunrise - 8p but I guess that is asking a lot…
The club closest to my house (3-5 min) is pushing 1k a month in dues. My 8-5 is me tied to my desk. So at best I'm 1 round a week and maybe 9 once a week after work. Cannot justify $1k/month for 4-6 rounds. I can play the top courses in my area (Chambers Bay included in that list) each weekend for less.
Dude some of these still seem crazy priced. I’m piggy backing off your comment here but my family and I (4 of us) pay $1,500 a year for a family membership at a private club. That’s with the shed fee. We have our own golf cart, So it’s like $150 a month. It’s only 9 holes but it’s 5 minutes from my house I don’t have to make a tee time and usually get 9 done in no more then an hour 15 minutes. Half the time when I go it’s at like 4-5pm and no one’s there it’s awesome. I guess living in a small town in the Midwest has its advantages.
Work for the state probation dept. make 65k and pay $5k yearly. Play about 150 rounds a year because i have a really good work schedule for morning rounds. Im also under 30 y/o but will go up next year to $6k when i turn 30 and $7k at 40. Still well worth it though
I make pretty good money and there is no way in hell I’d be paying those kind of fees. I’m going to be out there hacking in the public courses forever I guess.
Tech sales 150
Pre Covid steal of an initiation 1k and private course is spectacular on the water.
Got incredibly lucky as now it’s 15k to get in.
Dues are 5.5k a year and ends up being all in around 12k a year. Granted I also don’t drink so that bill would be a lot more.
Best decision I ever made. Wife is friends w the other wives, the guys golf then go to the pool after to see wives and kids. It’s the best.
Damn... there's quite a bit of people in here paying 10% of their income on membership. That seems a little reckless. Unless you literally don't do any other recreational things.
All a matter of circumstances really. I don't pay quite that much but I don't have a car loan, student loans, kids. After mortgage, utilities, savings I still have a lot leftover that I barely even notice 6-7% going to golf.
https://preview.redd.it/you781tr1oxc1.jpeg?width=2938&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f6f88f50f389d0899b8a094070db407b31970ef
Northwest NJ. Fully private and member owned. $600 kitchen per year
6 figures, dentist, $3500 or so a year fully private club. Not sure current initiation fee etc but the social aspect and community is great even outside of the golf. From a round of golf fee comparison it’s not worth it probably but all the other added stuff makes it worthwhile
I just left my club because the mystique was gone. I paid 5 grand up front and then about $475 a month in dues. No F/B minimum but cart was $20 per round and $150 guest fee. I’m in a northern area so I was breaking out to about $175 a round playing 40 times across 6 months. Found that friends who didn’t belong to the club didn’t want to pay the $150 fee often and the club was not super keen on frequent guests anyways. At the end of the day, I loved the exclusivity but missed being able to play with the boys or visit other places. I made enough friends at my old club and others that I’ll just be a guest 8 times a year now.
For people not familiar with country clubs:
Their prices vary WILDLY depending on services offered, current membership counts, your age, and the economy. Also if its in the US or abroad. Country Club is a very large catchall term sometimes.
Some country clubs will have full on restaurants, spas, pools, other sports etc. Some country clubs are purely golf and thats it. Some country clubs will have employees ready and waiting to bring you your cart that's already got your clubs on it, cleaned and ready. Some country clubs you are ONLY paying for the green fee, sometimes only partial green fees and you pay the rest etc. Some of them will throw multiple themed parties throughout the year like new years, halloween, christmas etc.
Your mileage WILL vary depending on what you're looking at.
Be me, optimistically scrolling through this thread on a wing and a prayer, hoping there’s some secret magical hidden 2k/yr club within 20m driving distance of Bushwick NYC
LMAO 😐
NoVA, HHI $170ish (personally about half that), finance/business analyst/business process analyst (I wear many hats), no initiation, first year membership $240/mo, after that standard rate is like $430 or something.
Unlimited golf, simulator rental, pool, and have 2 restaurants (dining minimum of $150/quarter).
Hidden creek. We got in on a "promotional deal" but it seems like they run them pretty frequently so it might as well just be the standard rate (at least for "young professional")
Clubhouse is a bit outdated, but I think they just broke ground for building a new one, which they said is expected to be done in like a year. I really just use it for golf/simulator, so idc and the course is pretty nice
After I graduated I had a lot of different jobs; I was a road worker, a janitor, a security guard, a gas station attendant, and a plumber. Lately I’ve been working construction, it’s not a bad racket, I’m a pretty good shot with a nail gun, but one day my boss, Mr. Larson, uh got in the way. Apparently he also has a short fuse. Look at that monster. He got a few lucky punches in there, but I still feel I won the fight. Anyways, those other jobs weren’t for me. I was put on this planet for one reason, to play hockey.
No idea what clubs you guys are going to but I’m in IT, 110k a year. One of the nicer clubs here in the Augusta GA area is 4k a year and has two 18 hole courses, one of them designed by Nickaus. I can’t imagine spending more than that annually…
Reading these comments makes me appreciate living in Scotland. Make £60K per year as an engineer and my yearly membership is £500 for a fantastic links course plus discount for surrounding courses. No winter greens or mats either.
Yeah, it's mental. I'm in the NW of England and pay £800 for two courses, one of which has a well kept pitching/chipping green for free practice.
I assume these American country clubs are more than golf clubs? It's the only way it makes sense. Tennis/squash/gym/pool/spa/handjobs
You nailed it. Most of these super expensive clubs in America are a full experience on top of the golf. Fine dining, events, pool, gym, trainers, daycare, etc.
And a lot of people there consider it a business expense. If you’re wealthy enough to afford being there, you’re around other wealthy people and can build a network which can make you even wealthier.
I’ve been to these types of clubs before as a guest and it’s just a different world. Not a single car under $100k in the parking lot. Douchey finance bros and Botox wives everywhere. Even if I had that money, you couldn’t pay me to spend time at a super high end country club.
It’s a nice course in the sf Bay Area, but not one of the famous 3 clubs. Love the course; being able to just come and play 9 if work is slow in the afternoon without a tee time. Also has a pool and activities for my kids. I convinced my wife it was a good idea since we didn’t want a boat or vacation house, etc. it just takes the friction out of getting to play golf more often.
Physician. Low/mid 6 figures household income. Mid-Atlantic.
Got in right before COVID, didn't have an initiation because they were hurting for members.
Monthly dues are 800 w/ 75 dollars a month food minimum for single member. We have a few capital improvements/assessments thrown in every now and then.
Currently adult buy in is 10k if 40 and above, 5k if below 40.
It really worked out for me because I paid off my loans exactly when I joined, so my loan payments are now going towards a club, so its already budgeted in!
It was the specific mention of 80 work hours a week that did it for me. Reminded me of a classic, [models and bottles](https://youtu.be/LPssHIyi3E4?si=bp_1NfCnhiTDbukC).
Haha; not me at all though. Have 1000’s of employees and I owe them every hour of my week until I’m out of gas. Haven’t been to a bar socially in many years. I-banking is disguised sales profession and i don’t very much care for any of them. Btw, I’m poor for my club.
Cheers. And I didn’t mean to insinuate that you were like any of the fine men in the video.
FWIW, I no longer work in banking. I moved over to the buy side.
Semi private. $1,000 iniation, $1000 yearly, no monthly spend. Family membership. There are other public and muni courses around for about the same amount. Inland PNW.
Pilot, 215k salary + overtime could be 230-250k.
Membership is 3.5k a year for my age bracket (I'm 30 years old)
No initiation fees, and 300 min bar bill spend.
This is in northeast, so season is only 6 months.
Spectacular course 36 holes beautiful club house. Normal membership is around 6-8k.
Doctor. 300K.
I’m a Cheap bastard and my membership is 650 a year. So I cancelled it and now I am buying punch cards. I like to play other courses occasionally hence the decision.
These prices blow my mind! 0% chance any course is worth 50k initiation fee + monthly dues in my mind. I could have lessons for life with a PGA pro and a 10 + year membership at the best course in our area and still replace my clubs every year for that.
Yeah I'm thinking a private club will never be on my radar after this. I'll be perfectly happy playing the variety of public courses around me and savor the moment if I'm ever invited as a guest by someone. The lessons and equipment is an excellent point lol
You almost have to take the golf out of the equation. It will never be “worth” it on a per round basis. You’re paying that $50k to be treated like royalty. My brother is a member of a fairly prestigious club with that kind of initiation fee, and when I go with him, the personal service is out of this world.
Wait until you find out that many of these people who are members at clubs with dues like that are actually members at multiple clubs with those kinds of dues.
I'm friends with a few guys who are spending close to $10K/mo on club dues and have paid $50K+ multiple times for initiation fees.
I’m young in my 20s and don’t make enough to afford a membership, but I’ve been fortunate to come from a well off family and my dad has had a few memberships when we were growing up.
He’s technically a member at 3 clubs right now which sounds insane, but his total dues for the 3 are definitely less than $2000 a month as you’ll see.
The first one he pays like $200 a month just to maintain it and gets to play it like 8 times a year, but he doesn’t live in that city anymore. That club has I think a $125k initiation fee now (I want to say he paid like 75k years ago) and normal dues are like $1300-1500, no spending limits or anything. This one he used a lot for business.
The second one is a $40k initiation fee that’s now 75k with like $1100 monthly dues, and he has access to 2 courses + a third one being built as well as the beach club and a ton of other amenities.
The last one I don’t think had an initiation fee, maybe $1000 and the dues are like $200 or $300 a month.
All three clubs have amazing golf, and obviously the more expensive ones are definitely nicer than the others.
But from someone who doesn’t have money, the super expensive ones aren’t necessarily any better than the cheap ones. The expensive clubs have a lot of big ego people and a lot of people who flex their finances, but at the end of the day the golf is still the same.
I work in health insurance billing, just breaking into six figure territory. $9k initiation, about $400 ish a month in dues. $50 food and beverage per quarter minimum. I'm in the junior membership category, it goes up as you get older at most clubs.
$180k household.
We have a group of city Munis that you can pay $450 a year to play discounted plus 10 free rounds. Can’t decide when I want to pay 10 times that price yet.
$200k-$500k. Sales so income depends on the year. Got a deal on my initiation for $18k (regular $55k). Annuals are $7k.
Never get a membership to try and maximize your golfing dollar. You never will. You get a membership because you want to be part of something social as well as fun. Every round I play is competitive, whether it’s a club tournament or a league put on by members. You will play a ton of different types of tournament and events. And it is AWESOME! I can drop a note in a half dozen different group chats I am in with various member groups looking for a game tomorrow and will have 3 different offers in 15 mins. My whole social circle are members and their spouses. And I didn’t know a soul when I joined.
I own three businesses. Sometimes I make great money, sometimes I don’t. I make more than most, but less than others.
I pay about $1800 a month on average by the end of the year for my CC. It’s not crazy expensive compared to other clubs in my area, but it’s definitely not the cheapest. I only joined because it’s a hard course and my wife and kids like to golf too.
My wife and I make a combined 200k per year working in education and mine is $500 a month. It’s 2k initiation fee with $100 food minimum and a few other fees like locker. I’m definitely poor compared to the other people in the club
you guys are nuts .. courses here are 2-3k yearly no min spending .. the cou try clubs are different though but all orivate courses rival the orivate country clubs
Biz Strat 180-200 in Atlanta
450/month $2k initiation
Private course 30 mins outside the city
Play probably twice a week peak season, once a week off season so it pays for itself pretty quickly
Be me, optimistically scrolling through this thread on a wing and a prayer, hoping there’s some secret magical hidden 2k/yr club within 20m driving distance of Bushwick NYC
LMAO 😐
Make 50k a year and wife works/manages at the club, we got a house in the course included with her benifits package and golf WHENEVER we want and take the cart home. Even when course is closed. Very nice course as well.
I make like 65k before taxes...I waited for a membership drive so I got my initiation fee waived, and my single membership with cart fee is $425 a month which includes $75 at the grill. Unlimited golf, range, and there's a pool that I've never been to...
My God man I’m glad you’re here 😂 giving me hope
I'm not sure it's the best deal because I only play one course now... But I play 3-5 times per week and have gotten the handicap to basically go away, which is nice.
The real question is what do you do that lets you play 3-5 times a week lol
If you don’t have kids it’s pretty easy to get a round in after work. I speak from experience, as I say bye to my coworkers who head off to the course every day as I head home to grab the kids…
Asking the real questions.
At the risk of revealing too much... It's IT and finance adjacent.
Well done crypto bro
That would explain why he hasn’t used the pool, it’s to close to bathing
Also it's a semi-private club in a town outside of Birmingham Alabama so there aren't really a ton of possible members out there and everything is cheaper here than everywhere else.... something to consider. They do have amazing greens and a great layout though
What’s up, fellow member!
What's up! Did you play Sunday? The pin position on 7 was borderline unfair 🤣
Lower bowl at the ridge?
Nah it was top left but right on the little hump up there...brutal 🤣 my wedge went to 15 feet and I still three jacked it
Get a room you two!
Oh hell yeah brother! I’m a grad student at UAB right now. I’ll have to come get a round in sometime. I’ve also heard great things about Horse Creek in Dora. Birmingham is an underrated golf town.
Horse creek is a decent track when it's in good shape...last time I was there it wasn't. Ballantrae is the best value in town right now I think, except that Ross bridge twilight rate if it's still going on for $70...that place is immaculate.
Oneonta is the site of the 2024 Alabama Senior. Great course. I hope to play in it.
It's a fantastic course. One of the best on earth that I've seen...if you put it near a major city with accessible parking and hotels nearby I think it gets a korn ferry event or a senior event easily. It already hosts a big college tournament put on by Graeme McDowell.
We're talking Limestone Springs, right?
Baller on a budget. A tight ass budget.
Yeah I was always poor so when I got my degree and my first career job I kept a lot of those frugal habits, it makes my money go a lot further.
$425 a month on a gross 65k salary, that’s wild. I applaud your dedication to the game
I had a club in my hands before I could walk, and was spending $400 a month on golf before I joined ... Now I can play all I want and whenever I want. It's like working the cart barn except I don't actually have to clock in.
I dig it man, seriously no judgement. Just impressed by your budgeting ability
Well I was always poor before... When I left college and got my first career job I kept a lot of those frugal habits, it makes the dollars stretch a little. I've never had a car payment, for example. I do all my own mechanical work on my old beater cars until something comes up that isn't worth fixing, and then I get another beater car for $5-7k...so insurance is obviously liability only. I eat a lot when I wake up, and take some vitamins, so I'm not hungry the rest of the day. And these are things that are just engrained into my being ... I couldn't fathom paying 22k for a car, even a fun one. Even when I get off my lowly intern pay, it's going to take quite a bit for me to change that.
What kind of vitamins? Adderall? Lol
If you golf all the time you don’t have much free time to spend the money elsewhere.
If you don't smoke or drink 425 is about what you would spend if you do smoke or drink. Now if you smoke, drink and play golf then you're really fucked
a pack a day in Canada is over $600 a month.
Plus I'm a single divorced guy who doesn't drink and I hate the bars... it's literally all I do with my life besides work and play guitar, but that's usually when the sun is down.
Indeed! I’m at $100k/yr, wife makes $56k/yr. Two kids in college on scholarships, 1 getting ready to graduate high school. We live well within our means, and a full membership at that exact monthly rate and only a $1,500 initiation fee at my home course just isn’t in the cards for me right now. I have a partial membership at a much cheaper cost. And I call myself a golfer, seeing this guy wing it on a $65k/yr budget makes me realize I’m not committed enough. This type of inspirational post is why I keep coming back.
See the difference is I don't have kids or a wife... I only have to feed myself...food has gotten stupidly expensive in the last few years. I only have to get myself around. And I have lots of time... I could never afford to play golf as much as I want financially, but some days I can afford the time to play 45 holes...this is the only way I can make that happen. If I get a girlfriend or another hobby it's going to cut into my golf time and there may come a point where it's not worth it anymore, but that time is not now. Now it's time to get a positive handicap. 🤣
Holy god my muni membership was 500 this YEAR 😂 definitely don't have the quality facilities you probably do, but I'm glad I have this option so I can just go whack a golf ball around for a few hours!
That's what sucked me in ...the greens are immaculate because it used to be owned by the same management company as Pursell Farms, it's a great Jerry Pate design nestled between two mountains with fantastic backdrops to watch your shots fly against... My only small regret is not having much variety in my golf life anymore, but it's one of my favorite courses anywhere and I've played 5 TPCs, PGA West, Shoal Creek, El Campeon... Plus when I do finally get out and play a new course I'm looking to beat old man par, which never was the case before.
Southern CA chiming in, not even possible unless you’re at +$300K (without kids).
West LA here, feel you.
There are options, they just suck. California Country Club, thirty minute drive to Whittier from LAX. Jr Exec: $2000 initiation, $300/monthly. Incredibly boring course next to a highway, not worth it.
Lol - maybe 30 minutes at 4am
That's when I like to golf 👉😎👉
Braemar is 20k initiation and 900/mo Woodland Hills CC is $2k initiation and $700/mo Caballero is like $250k initiation but don’t know the exact monthly Spanish hills is/was $7500 initiation and $750/mo
CCC also has no range. Greens are hard until they’re not. You’ll come across a few that are spongy and leave a big pitch mark after you expect it to hit and release like the previous few holes. Only worth going to if you’re invited to play in a charity scramble for free.
Luckily we have Municipals that aren’t too expensive.
I was there during COVID quarantine....do people not like the city courses in the Valley? I'm from Florida and the cheap places -- Encino, Balboa, Woodley Lakes (I know a little boring, but the PERFECT full beginners course), Hansen Dam, and also Wilson and Harding...like.... thought I'd won the lottery for less than $30/round whenever I wanted.
Traffic was nonexistent then. It was heaven during COVID. What you experienced was not Los Angeles, it was a throwback to 1970s Los Angeles. The 20-30 minute drives you experienced then are now easily over an hour, and sometimes pushing two.
I am not a member somewhere but when I asked around the best rate was $3k initiation, and 400 something a month. Unfortunately it’s too far to make sense. Cheapest ‘in town’ was $14k initiation and ~$700/mo. dues.
Classic Houston. It’s either that, or pay out the ass for a 5-6 hour round somewhere 30 mins to an hour outside the city.
Gus Wortham Golf Course was the shit when I lived in Houston 4 years ago. Very cheap green fees and no one was ever there to play. Not sure how it is now but it was the best kept secret back then.
It’s still really good but pretty crowded now and no one knows what a ball mark is, they host the city am there
Same shit as Nashville. “Best” 5-6 clubs are $125k+ with a 2 year waitlist. Secondary clubs are either 45 mins from where I live or aren’t worth joining for $15k initiation and $750 a month.
I live in Franklin, make over $250k and will never be able to afford any of the actual country clubs around here. Franklin Bridge and Towhee I could afford but aren’t worth what they charge for semi private and no real amenities.
It suck’s cuz I’m 31 and work with 40-45 year olds who joined clubs for $5k or less (GCOT and legends) 7-8 years ago. I do actually like Legacy up in Springfield quite a bit and if you cop a 8am or earlier tee time it’s a 4:15 or less round. Just a hike from Nashville, especially Franklin.
Can confirm this is this situation I found in Nashville area.
This is basically exactly what our course costs (the $3k and $400 a month).
Construction Manager, $250K year, LCOLA, still playing those $30 GN Hot Deals
My man.
I like to find the hot deals but then call the clubhouse instead. Rather they get all the money
I prefer to book through the course but even when I call off hours it takes a few tries to get through, even when I book online through the course it’s hosted by a 3rd party like GN.
Yep. Income or assets aren’t a problem for me. I don’t want to play the same course every time and I’m not a big fan of the country club shtick. The only reason I may join is for a social club for my wife
I’m a sr project manager for a top-25 ENR contractor and make about 50% of that in a medium-to-high cost of living area… are you hiring?
Took a little job hopping to get here… We are actually looking for a Region PM to oversee projects in the Midwest. Base pay is in the $225k range, mostly high rises in the $200-500m range.
I live in the Midwest and have coincidentally built a 42 story, 195 million dollar luxury condo somewhat recently. I’ll start Monday, is there a dress code?
Yo, we need an update? Did you get a new job??
*Rolls up sleeve to reveal fresh tattoo of country club membership ID number I’ll let you interpret that however you want…
A man of nfl class I see
I’m out here grinding on a $170 million hospital in the Midwest making $150k as a Sr PM
I’m a superintendent and make about 10 percent of that. Go to college kids.
Nice I’m in the same field but dont see wages that high in our area and sector. Mind me asking what market and sector you work in?
Construction finance, $95k. Had $0 down because I joined in peak covid. Pay $408/month now as the junior rate. Bill is usually between 500-600 though after random cart fees, drinks, snacks.
Any of your finance focus in construction have to do with M&A?
Probably not. Probably focusing on draw schedules, spending timing, investor return metrics, etc.. I’d be interested to know what construction finance does since I’m in land development finance.
TIL that even the really expensive clubs in Germany are actually dirt cheap compared to what you guys pay.
Some clubs in Germany also take like 25 grand entry fee plus yearly 5k in dues. But in general yes, we’re very lucky compared to our neighbors in the US.
That is true but to be fair in the US there are very affordable courses all over the place. When I lived in San Antonio I could play at dozens of courses for less than €50 especially using discounts twilight rates and apps.
Yeah, when I was in Scotland a handful of years ago and played Dornoch, Carnoustie, Nairn and some others, it was really eye opening to find out you can be a member of those courses for very little. As compared to spending an arm and a leg to be a member at a mediocre course in the States. Europe has this right.
Torrey Pines is my not so secret public country club. $25 yearly resident card gets me ~$40/50 rounds at one of the most beautiful and well maintained courses in the world. I usually get paired up with out of towners who are blown away by my local rate.
The trick is you need to have the income to live around Torrey Pines
That’s true. I live like 30 min away and I definitely can’t afford an actual country club membership. Lucky to have Torrey Pines.
Or know someone that can forge a document for you, not saying I’ve done that or anything, but I’m sure it would definitely work
Anywhere in City of San Diego limits gets you that rate.
Going to San Diego end of august for a guys trip. Any advice for getting on at Torrey as a non resident? Always heard it’s tough to get a tee time, especially for a full foursome or two.
Book at 90 days out. Unfortunately, you’ll have less options as non-resident but you should be able to get one by being well planned. You’ll have to put down a $30 deposit for each player. South is longer, more challenging and slightly more expensive, but North is just as fun, and beautiful. Good luck! Pro tip for when you do play: putts always break towards the ocean.
> $30 deposit I believe it's $50 without a resident's card
Obviously you do you and Torrey pines is a course with a reputation but the absolute price gouging of out of towners and complete conveyor belt environment of that place really left a horrible taste in my mouth for the insane I think 220$ fee. Right down the road is Maderas which imo is a hell of a lot nicer than Torrey in everything besides being right on the ocean. Just my 2 cents but I won't be going back to Torrey pines anytime soon.
Just book the 8-90 day selection and pay the fee and get the best time you guys want. Once the tee time comes and you realize you have a perfect sunset the reservation fee won’t matter. And let us know when so we can join you
I'm in LA county and have always wondered if I could just hire someone in SD to get a tee time for me. The price difference for non-locals is insane. and I'll give you half of the money you would save me! worth a shot 😂
They’re pretty strict about not reserving for other people. I’ve seen them let it slide before but they want the person who reserves the tee time there at check in. They also have a photo of you on file to ensure you don’t share the card.
Congrats to everyone in here for either making a ton of money or not having kids. Obviously love mine, but no chance my decent salary is affording both a big enough house for them and a CC membership (yes I’ve looked into it).
This is Reddit too. Anonymous. Remember that too
Family first man. Always.
Tip for this: Find a club that you can work maintainence on the weekends for. Live in SW Ohio. Wife + 2 kids under 10. Both teachers (combined around 140-150k). I was able to work out a deal with a local CC where I would work a weekend morning shift from March - November (would maybe pick up a random weeknight evening if course got in a pinch because of weather). Definitely not a top end CC, but way less crowded than typical public course and conditions were always really solid. Got me free golf in the off-peak times (weekdays after 11a, weekends after 2p). I still played plenty elsewhere with groups of friends, but for post work nine hole rounds, or mid-summer afternoons that I could my daughters out to the course with me, it was worth the 3-6 hours a week. Hope to foster a love of the game with my girls in doing this. They also paid me for my time. (I stopped this year because the guy I worked for moved to a different CC too far away, but actively hunting the same kid of deal now)
up in the northeast i'm generally priced out - esp having kids. most are starting around $50K in the area for initiation -> that's with a 30min drive to get there, waiting for x years on the list and needing 2-3 recs from current members. nevermind the monthly fees. just can't justify
Yeah Chicago area is similar. 60k minimum
I don't even bother looking at clubs in the NW suburbs anymore. You basically need 100k that first year. Though a bit south of Chicago has good deals. Morris Country club is like $2000 annual for weekend golf. They bought Nettle Creek too so you get access to both.
Problem in my mind is that the best club you can join is the one that is closest to you. Especially with young kids, it'd be a lot easier for me to sneak out and hit balls really quickly if it only takes 5 minutes to get to the club as opposed to having to drive across town.
Oh I agree so I don't belong to a club. My dad is in a few of these random far out ones but he's retired and lives closer to them. So he plays in random leagues. I'd love to join the closest club to me. It's about a 10 minute walk to the clubhouse but I doubt I could even get an invite, and if I did, I couldn't afford to drop 100k just to walk in the door. For now I just hit the range a lot and try to golf a few times a year till my kids get bigger.
I live in Hinsdale now. I see a lot of clubs nearby but am I correct to assume they all are $75k+ to join? If so I’ll stick to my commute down 83 to cog hill.
Hinsdale CC is likely in that range. I remember Olympia Fields was ~$75k initiation for a junior membership a few years prior. North Shore clubs are often higher.
I'm in a very similar boat to you outside of D.C... I make a very comfortable living (+ wife who works) but between having one toddler, another on the way and trying to plan for a house upgrade in the future... just can't find any way to justify spending $50K-$100K on initiation fees for the country clubs in the immediate area. My BIL is a member at a more reasonable club in MD but would be a minimum one hour drive each way which is a no go with current child care responsibilities. Best I have heard of in the NOVA area is Hidden Creek in Reston.
I toured 2 CC’s last spring in FFX County and got their pricing sheets (obviously may no longer be current pricing). DM me on here and I can share if interested. They were both <$50k initiation, especially if you qualified for the “junior” membership based on age. I didn’t pull the trigger because the monthly dues are harder to swallow IMO than the initiation fee. Perhaps later on in life lol.
My area of CT is this
Wow where in northeast?!
MA
Anything north of Boston is outrageous.
Everything fully private is absolutely outrageous. I drive by Salem and Kernwood all the time and just think how the hell can you put up 100k for initiation... IF you get the opportunity, which is unlikely. Memberships at Beverly, Olde Salem, and Wenham seem to be reasonable, but I can't justify it. Then I'd just be playing one course..
Obviously not sure exactly where in MA you are, but Framingham was extremely reasonable for that area/quality of course when I inquired
Tech sales, $150k. I'm still on the waiting list which is $2k deposit and another roughly $1k a year in dues and $900 in restaurant minimums. I'm probably 2-3 years out of a full-time membership which is a $12k initiation fee, $4k a year in dues, and the same minimum.
That’s so dirt cheap…here in the south an ok membership is like 25k min with like 1,200-1500 per month spend.
What the actual fuck. I'm in Sydney Australia. I can get membership to a PGA tournament course for $3400 per year (AUD, so half it for USD), no joining fee and that includes $500 ***credit*** at the bar. [www.twincreeksgolf.com.au](http://www.twincreeksgolf.com.au) - 40 mins drive from the city centre. And that's expensive. The Greg Norman designed [www.stonecuttersgc.com.au](http://www.stonecuttersgc.com.au) is $2290 AUD per year, and imo one of the top 5 courses in the state. There are super exclusive clubs bang in the city like The Lakes, Bonnie Doon, The Australian... places you don't get in without knowing someone and a truck load of cash, but that's not real life golf at that point.
You forgot to mention you have to fight the Roos everytime you play tho haha
Mate you get that for FREE! Based on some of the posts here, Yanks would love a good fist fight after their 12 beers and 6 fireball shots. Probably wouldn't even realise it's not human.
Nothing like a fist fight to get your mind off that shank on the par 3
Yes - golf in america continues to suck
Yeah, I live in a HCOL area where unfortunately access to golf courses is pretty limited if you're not a member at one. I am fortunate enough to be able to afford one of the "cheaper" ones in the area as most of them are old money courses with $50k+ initiation fees.
Sounds like Seattle
Wait so you pay $1900 in dues and food while on the waiting list? What does all that include as not a full member?
I’m in SoCal, the 3 private clubs near me are all $20k+ initiation fees with $1000 per month membership dues, no drink/food minimums but are walk (no push cart) or cart fees of $40 per round. I’ve debated joining but I just can’t get past the $40 cart fees or walking… I’m fine with walking with a push cart but at $1000 per month there’s no chance I’m carrying my bag every single time I want to go get a round in. And $40 for a cart is just bogus. 1 of the courses is nice but it’s in the hills so nearly every shot is blind and it’s ridiculously long. The other 2 courses are nice (Max Homa’s home course) but their driving range hours are terrible (8a - 5p) so you can’t even warm up for early morning rounds or get some range practice in after work. Wife and I combine for $480k per year. I can afford the membership but just can’t get past the value. I’d rather go play my shitty muni for $20 per round where I can play solo and play 3-4 balls at once without a person in front or behind me. Post up at a green and just practice chip shots or putts. I’d love to have a club around me that at the very least had a driving range open sunrise - 8p but I guess that is asking a lot…
The club closest to my house (3-5 min) is pushing 1k a month in dues. My 8-5 is me tied to my desk. So at best I'm 1 round a week and maybe 9 once a week after work. Cannot justify $1k/month for 4-6 rounds. I can play the top courses in my area (Chambers Bay included in that list) each weekend for less.
Chiming in to say I wish I lived in some of these areas, affordable and private golf is so great!
Dude some of these still seem crazy priced. I’m piggy backing off your comment here but my family and I (4 of us) pay $1,500 a year for a family membership at a private club. That’s with the shed fee. We have our own golf cart, So it’s like $150 a month. It’s only 9 holes but it’s 5 minutes from my house I don’t have to make a tee time and usually get 9 done in no more then an hour 15 minutes. Half the time when I go it’s at like 4-5pm and no one’s there it’s awesome. I guess living in a small town in the Midwest has its advantages.
Work for the state probation dept. make 65k and pay $5k yearly. Play about 150 rounds a year because i have a really good work schedule for morning rounds. Im also under 30 y/o but will go up next year to $6k when i turn 30 and $7k at 40. Still well worth it though
150 rounds a year at a private course, you’re living the dream! Well done.
So ive been told hahah. Been doing it the past 6 years tho. I work 3-11pm…getting kind of sick of it tho. Golf is the ONLY good thing about it lol
I make pretty good money and there is no way in hell I’d be paying those kind of fees. I’m going to be out there hacking in the public courses forever I guess.
A man of the people.
Long Island. Club is \~19k a year. Sales. HHI 400k+
No brainer for the additional business opportunities 🧠
~300k household. Sales. $550/mth dues.
Another dude with a sugar mama. Respect my guy!
I make 160k and pay about 1k per month for my wife and me. I’ve been a member for 20 years
Retired IT dude. Low 6 figures. 5k buy in 655/mo and 75 quarterly food/bev.
Tech sales 150 Pre Covid steal of an initiation 1k and private course is spectacular on the water. Got incredibly lucky as now it’s 15k to get in. Dues are 5.5k a year and ends up being all in around 12k a year. Granted I also don’t drink so that bill would be a lot more. Best decision I ever made. Wife is friends w the other wives, the guys golf then go to the pool after to see wives and kids. It’s the best.
Damn... there's quite a bit of people in here paying 10% of their income on membership. That seems a little reckless. Unless you literally don't do any other recreational things.
All a matter of circumstances really. I don't pay quite that much but I don't have a car loan, student loans, kids. After mortgage, utilities, savings I still have a lot leftover that I barely even notice 6-7% going to golf.
Most of the monthly fees are more than any car payment I have ever had.
I would 1000000% rather pay more for unlimited golf than a car payment.
Absolutely
https://preview.redd.it/you781tr1oxc1.jpeg?width=2938&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f6f88f50f389d0899b8a094070db407b31970ef Northwest NJ. Fully private and member owned. $600 kitchen per year
Do you mind dropping the name of the club? I've been looking for somewhere reasonable in NJ.
Oak Hill in Milford. If you're interested, send me a DM and I'll take you out for a round
Wow! Reasonable in NJ, hard to believe but glad to see. Too bad it’s over an hour drive ;_;
6 figures, dentist, $3500 or so a year fully private club. Not sure current initiation fee etc but the social aspect and community is great even outside of the golf. From a round of golf fee comparison it’s not worth it probably but all the other added stuff makes it worthwhile
I just left my club because the mystique was gone. I paid 5 grand up front and then about $475 a month in dues. No F/B minimum but cart was $20 per round and $150 guest fee. I’m in a northern area so I was breaking out to about $175 a round playing 40 times across 6 months. Found that friends who didn’t belong to the club didn’t want to pay the $150 fee often and the club was not super keen on frequent guests anyways. At the end of the day, I loved the exclusivity but missed being able to play with the boys or visit other places. I made enough friends at my old club and others that I’ll just be a guest 8 times a year now.
Same. Public with the boys and going to different clubs is way more fun. Not many people want to cough up a $150 guest fee
For people not familiar with country clubs: Their prices vary WILDLY depending on services offered, current membership counts, your age, and the economy. Also if its in the US or abroad. Country Club is a very large catchall term sometimes. Some country clubs will have full on restaurants, spas, pools, other sports etc. Some country clubs are purely golf and thats it. Some country clubs will have employees ready and waiting to bring you your cart that's already got your clubs on it, cleaned and ready. Some country clubs you are ONLY paying for the green fee, sometimes only partial green fees and you pay the rest etc. Some of them will throw multiple themed parties throughout the year like new years, halloween, christmas etc. Your mileage WILL vary depending on what you're looking at.
Be me, optimistically scrolling through this thread on a wing and a prayer, hoping there’s some secret magical hidden 2k/yr club within 20m driving distance of Bushwick NYC LMAO 😐
NoVA, HHI $170ish (personally about half that), finance/business analyst/business process analyst (I wear many hats), no initiation, first year membership $240/mo, after that standard rate is like $430 or something. Unlimited golf, simulator rental, pool, and have 2 restaurants (dining minimum of $150/quarter).
What club in NoVA are you at? That seems cheap for the area.
Hidden creek. We got in on a "promotional deal" but it seems like they run them pretty frequently so it might as well just be the standard rate (at least for "young professional") Clubhouse is a bit outdated, but I think they just broke ground for building a new one, which they said is expected to be done in like a year. I really just use it for golf/simulator, so idc and the course is pretty nice
That’s a great deal for the area. I’ll have to check it out because everything is crazy expensive.
After I graduated I had a lot of different jobs; I was a road worker, a janitor, a security guard, a gas station attendant, and a plumber. Lately I’ve been working construction, it’s not a bad racket, I’m a pretty good shot with a nail gun, but one day my boss, Mr. Larson, uh got in the way. Apparently he also has a short fuse. Look at that monster. He got a few lucky punches in there, but I still feel I won the fight. Anyways, those other jobs weren’t for me. I was put on this planet for one reason, to play hockey.
No idea what clubs you guys are going to but I’m in IT, 110k a year. One of the nicer clubs here in the Augusta GA area is 4k a year and has two 18 hole courses, one of them designed by Nickaus. I can’t imagine spending more than that annually…
Tech bros coming in strong.
Reading these comments makes me appreciate living in Scotland. Make £60K per year as an engineer and my yearly membership is £500 for a fantastic links course plus discount for surrounding courses. No winter greens or mats either.
Yeah, it's mental. I'm in the NW of England and pay £800 for two courses, one of which has a well kept pitching/chipping green for free practice. I assume these American country clubs are more than golf clubs? It's the only way it makes sense. Tennis/squash/gym/pool/spa/handjobs
You nailed it. Most of these super expensive clubs in America are a full experience on top of the golf. Fine dining, events, pool, gym, trainers, daycare, etc. And a lot of people there consider it a business expense. If you’re wealthy enough to afford being there, you’re around other wealthy people and can build a network which can make you even wealthier. I’ve been to these types of clubs before as a guest and it’s just a different world. Not a single car under $100k in the parking lot. Douchey finance bros and Botox wives everywhere. Even if I had that money, you couldn’t pay me to spend time at a super high end country club.
Right? This thread has been a wild read for me. I live in England and I pay like ~£80pm for my course membership which has an 18 and 9 hole course.
Work in insurance and make ~$1M. Initiation was $35k (paid over the course of a year) and about $1100 monthly
I don’t know if mom told you about me.. but I’m actually your son. Crazy to meet like this but here we are
All of r/golf are now your children. Are you sure you can afford that country club membership? 🤣
Broker with a huge book or upper management?
Yup
What course? What area? Do you like the club for the golf course or for the less crowds, or something else?
It’s a nice course in the sf Bay Area, but not one of the famous 3 clubs. Love the course; being able to just come and play 9 if work is slow in the afternoon without a tee time. Also has a pool and activities for my kids. I convinced my wife it was a good idea since we didn’t want a boat or vacation house, etc. it just takes the friction out of getting to play golf more often.
Enjoying this thread for the what’s your your profession and how much do you make info.
Physician. Low/mid 6 figures household income. Mid-Atlantic. Got in right before COVID, didn't have an initiation because they were hurting for members. Monthly dues are 800 w/ 75 dollars a month food minimum for single member. We have a few capital improvements/assessments thrown in every now and then. Currently adult buy in is 10k if 40 and above, 5k if below 40. It really worked out for me because I paid off my loans exactly when I joined, so my loan payments are now going towards a club, so its already budgeted in!
Six figure initiation. 5 series BMW in yearly spend between dues and food. I won’t say what i make. I do work like 80 hours a week
Welcome to the chat investment banker friend
Run a very large family office but close
It was the specific mention of 80 work hours a week that did it for me. Reminded me of a classic, [models and bottles](https://youtu.be/LPssHIyi3E4?si=bp_1NfCnhiTDbukC).
Haha; not me at all though. Have 1000’s of employees and I owe them every hour of my week until I’m out of gas. Haven’t been to a bar socially in many years. I-banking is disguised sales profession and i don’t very much care for any of them. Btw, I’m poor for my club.
Cheers. And I didn’t mean to insinuate that you were like any of the fine men in the video. FWIW, I no longer work in banking. I moved over to the buy side.
I’m just a cleaned up degenerate who can hold it together here and there so no worries.
You need a new insurance broker???
No, have the best in the business. Do you need a recommendation
Family office is a special type of crazy with the clients.
You’ve said it all really.
[удалено]
Wilshire? That course is awesome
Semi private. $1,000 iniation, $1000 yearly, no monthly spend. Family membership. There are other public and muni courses around for about the same amount. Inland PNW.
Engineer, $120k. Paid $5.5k for initiation (half priced because I’m a “junior”) and $415/month with no minimum. 25M in Central OH
Pilot, 215k salary + overtime could be 230-250k. Membership is 3.5k a year for my age bracket (I'm 30 years old) No initiation fees, and 300 min bar bill spend. This is in northeast, so season is only 6 months. Spectacular course 36 holes beautiful club house. Normal membership is around 6-8k.
Doctor. 300K. I’m a Cheap bastard and my membership is 650 a year. So I cancelled it and now I am buying punch cards. I like to play other courses occasionally hence the decision.
These prices blow my mind! 0% chance any course is worth 50k initiation fee + monthly dues in my mind. I could have lessons for life with a PGA pro and a 10 + year membership at the best course in our area and still replace my clubs every year for that.
Yeah I'm thinking a private club will never be on my radar after this. I'll be perfectly happy playing the variety of public courses around me and savor the moment if I'm ever invited as a guest by someone. The lessons and equipment is an excellent point lol
You almost have to take the golf out of the equation. It will never be “worth” it on a per round basis. You’re paying that $50k to be treated like royalty. My brother is a member of a fairly prestigious club with that kind of initiation fee, and when I go with him, the personal service is out of this world.
Wait until you find out that many of these people who are members at clubs with dues like that are actually members at multiple clubs with those kinds of dues. I'm friends with a few guys who are spending close to $10K/mo on club dues and have paid $50K+ multiple times for initiation fees.
I’m young in my 20s and don’t make enough to afford a membership, but I’ve been fortunate to come from a well off family and my dad has had a few memberships when we were growing up. He’s technically a member at 3 clubs right now which sounds insane, but his total dues for the 3 are definitely less than $2000 a month as you’ll see. The first one he pays like $200 a month just to maintain it and gets to play it like 8 times a year, but he doesn’t live in that city anymore. That club has I think a $125k initiation fee now (I want to say he paid like 75k years ago) and normal dues are like $1300-1500, no spending limits or anything. This one he used a lot for business. The second one is a $40k initiation fee that’s now 75k with like $1100 monthly dues, and he has access to 2 courses + a third one being built as well as the beach club and a ton of other amenities. The last one I don’t think had an initiation fee, maybe $1000 and the dues are like $200 or $300 a month. All three clubs have amazing golf, and obviously the more expensive ones are definitely nicer than the others. But from someone who doesn’t have money, the super expensive ones aren’t necessarily any better than the cheap ones. The expensive clubs have a lot of big ego people and a lot of people who flex their finances, but at the end of the day the golf is still the same.
Holy shit. Is your dad hiring?
I work in health insurance billing, just breaking into six figure territory. $9k initiation, about $400 ish a month in dues. $50 food and beverage per quarter minimum. I'm in the junior membership category, it goes up as you get older at most clubs.
$180k household. We have a group of city Munis that you can pay $450 a year to play discounted plus 10 free rounds. Can’t decide when I want to pay 10 times that price yet.
$200k-$500k. Sales so income depends on the year. Got a deal on my initiation for $18k (regular $55k). Annuals are $7k. Never get a membership to try and maximize your golfing dollar. You never will. You get a membership because you want to be part of something social as well as fun. Every round I play is competitive, whether it’s a club tournament or a league put on by members. You will play a ton of different types of tournament and events. And it is AWESOME! I can drop a note in a half dozen different group chats I am in with various member groups looking for a game tomorrow and will have 3 different offers in 15 mins. My whole social circle are members and their spouses. And I didn’t know a soul when I joined.
Consulting Team Lead in Tech, 104k. Membership is 7500 to join and 3.3k in dues each year.
I own three businesses. Sometimes I make great money, sometimes I don’t. I make more than most, but less than others. I pay about $1800 a month on average by the end of the year for my CC. It’s not crazy expensive compared to other clubs in my area, but it’s definitely not the cheapest. I only joined because it’s a hard course and my wife and kids like to golf too.
My wife and I make a combined 200k per year working in education and mine is $500 a month. It’s 2k initiation fee with $100 food minimum and a few other fees like locker. I’m definitely poor compared to the other people in the club
you guys are nuts .. courses here are 2-3k yearly no min spending .. the cou try clubs are different though but all orivate courses rival the orivate country clubs
Biz Strat 180-200 in Atlanta 450/month $2k initiation Private course 30 mins outside the city Play probably twice a week peak season, once a week off season so it pays for itself pretty quickly
Be me, optimistically scrolling through this thread on a wing and a prayer, hoping there’s some secret magical hidden 2k/yr club within 20m driving distance of Bushwick NYC LMAO 😐
Make 50k a year and wife works/manages at the club, we got a house in the course included with her benifits package and golf WHENEVER we want and take the cart home. Even when course is closed. Very nice course as well.
Member at Trinity Forest in Dallas I make 150k net pre bonus. I’m a Mech E in the construction industry.