Taking nominations for Best course with initiation fee UNDER . . . say $50,000

[Peter_Collins]

Praire Dunes  (under $20,000)

[wsmorrison]

In suburban Philadelphia, the cost of great golf at the older private clubs would surprise many.  Think of a course in the district and chances are it qualifies for this category.

[Craig Disher]

If Washington Golf Monthly can be believed, Baltimore CC.

[Mike Hendren]

Augusta National Golf Club

[BCrosby]

Mike is right. Best deal in golf. Getting the letter is another matter.

I've heard that Cuscowilla is about $15k.

Bob

[Mike_Sweeney]

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/OpinionUKGolfCourses.html

Take your pick from Mark Rowlinson's list. It is just a plane ride away !

[Chris Kane]

Royal Melbourne
Kingston Heath
New South Wales
Victoria
Commonwealth
Newcastle
Portsea
 

[DPL11]

Pine Valley


Unless it has changed recently.

[Joe Hancock]

Kingsley Club

[DTaylor18]

Hidden Creek

[RJ_Daley]

I'll post my naive question about the downstroke or initiation fees here on the lower side of the recently posted nomination process as it is about conserving one's investment.

I know there are all manner of club fee structures, benefits and payment.  However, can anyone explain the best relative deal in equity intiation fees regarding membership rights to cash in, transfer, rights of heirship, or first right of refusals by said clubs if transfer or sale of the membership is allowed?

Of course there are those club membership deals that offer no equity or ownership rights, just yearly fees.  Places like Wild Horse and the list of many GB&I courses listed by Mark.  Or, am I wrong there about GB&I member-shareholder rights?

The obvious consideration I am driving at, is the potential to recover large initiation fees.  The larger numbers aren't as difficult to ponder with a recovery potential for many folks who would otherwise be scared off by the numbers.

[Bob_Huntley]

There are initiation fees and then again there are initiation fees.

 Here in the Del Monte Forest one club's nut is $200,000.00, but upon sale the member gets back 50%. His/her remaining spouse or child can inherit the membership at no cost. Another club in the area charges but $125,000.00 with no remit at all. In addition the surviving spouse does not become a member automatically, but has an annual membership that can be cancelled at any time. I daresay this was put into effect in case the surviving spouse decided to marry some undesirable who couldn't use the fish fork properly!

[Jonathan Cummings]

Wannamoisett.  

I was told last summer that until the Carneigie Club opened for $100k, there was no club in RI with an initiation above $10k.

[bill_k]

  Yeamans Hall is under 50k and might even be under 25k.

[Paul Richards]

Beverly CC is an amazing bargain at $40k when you consider that it is the closest private course not only to downtown Chicago, but is easily accessible from the Western and Southern suburbs.

Keep in mind that in the Western suburbs, courses range from $60k to over $120k, so it is quite a bargain to join a nationally-recognized course for this price in this locale.

[Mark_Amundson]

I think one of the trends in private clubs is the membership which has a downstroke (deposit) which you receive back when you resign your membership.  At Sutton Bay our membership deposit is $75,000 for a Charter Membership.  When you resign the membership to the club and the club re-sells the membership the entire $75,000 is remitted to the original member.  The only money a member spends is the interest on the $75,000 while they are a member and the annual dues.  So what is the initiation fee, $75,000 or $0?  It is my opinion this type of set-up is more desireable than the large fee which disappears when you cease being a member.

[Jeff Goldman]

Paul, You've got Olympia Fields beat on location, but the initiation there is 5K less, for now.  Both of these are quite stunningly low considering the quality of the golf, ease of travel from the city (no reverse commutes), and the fact that (I've heard) for their 60K and up, members fight for tee times at some courses in the Western 'burbs.

Jeff Goldman

[Odd_Job]

I heard that Shinnecock was 25K, but there is the pesky problem of the invitiation.

[Paul Richards]

Jeff:

Great point.  

When you compare OFCC to BCC, it's a fair fight.  

But, you must remember, that OFCC is a MUCH farther ride from downtown and is virtually inaccessible from the western suburbs.

[Top100Guru]

Let'stake the question one step further....what's the best club to join under $50K that is refundable......and what is the best that is non-refundable??

[hick]

Jonathan, carnegie abbey(125 members two years ago) is now well over the 100k mark, and sheltor harbor club in westerly is 150k of which 25,000 is non refundable. There are 277 on the membership as of now, and a waitlist. Newport national is in the 40k. The radio stations(advertising) in ri are saying that they are taking tee times this spring. Dont know if they are not getting the members that they thought.

[Shane Gurnett]

Wouldn't just about every club in the southern hemisphere qualify?

For US$50,000 ($67,000 Aussie Dollars) you could join 4 or 5  sandbelt clubs, and have enough left over for the first years dues, including your bar tab.

You guys north of the equator dont realise how good it is down here...

[moth]

Shane,

Surely you would go old and grey waiting for a membership at any of the sandbelt courses? I suspect if memberships were transferable (like many are in the states?), not only would they be a GREAT deal more expensive than they are now - memberships would become available immediately.

[Shane Gurnett]

Brett, you'd be suprised. There are 2, perhaps 3 of the elite sandbelt clubs where you'd be in within a matter of months, subject to payment. As an example, Yarra and Huntingdale now have transferrable memberships, which serve as a way of jumping whatever queue there is.

All is not what is was in the roaring 1980's.

[Steve_Roths]

Isn't Sand Hills around $25,000?