National Membership Options

[Doug Lionberger]

I’m looking to join a club as a National member and was curious if anybody had any specifics.  I was hoping there would be an option to join Ballyneal as it was one of my favorite golfing experiences but doesn’t even seem possible to get my name on the waiting list right now.  Ideally looking for a Top 100 type course, walkable, lodging, remote would be preferred but certainly is not the first criteria.  A place to escape and just play golf snd relax several times a year.  Any suggestions would be much appreciated.


This will primarily be used in the summers months if that makes a difference in recommendations.

[Paul Jones]

Look into the Tree Farm - it is being built as we speak and the owner/designer both post on this website.

[Stewart Abramson]

I’m looking to join a club as a National member and was curious if anybody had any specifics.... Ideally looking for a Top 100 type course, walkable, lodging, remote would be preferred ...  A place to escape and just play golf snd relax several times a year.  Any suggestions would be much appreciated.


This will primarily be used in the summers months if that makes a difference in recommendations.

Kingsley and Rock Creek Cattle Co. are both good choices to look into that meet your criteria. Rock Creek is more remote if that's what you're looking for.

[David_Tepper]

I imagine the new Old Barnwell course near Aiken, SC will be looking for natl. members.

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,70086.msg1684062.html#msg1684062

[Joe_Tucholski]

I know you said national, but consider international for amazing value.


Most national memberships in the US tend to be in remote locations that require significant travel to get to.  If you live in a major metro area on the east coast it may be similar travel time to the UK/Ireland as it is to Ballyneal.


Recent international travel restrictions, admittedly, have changed the equation on ease of travel the last couple of years.


Another sort of thing to consider is a network of clubs like Dormie Network.

[Bill Seitz]

Prairie Dunes always sounded like a good option if it isn't full.  Great course, onsite lodging, not difficult to get to if you're in Houston.  I imagine you can fly direct to Wichita.  It feels more remote than it is.

[Jesse Kodadek]

Kingsley and Rock Creek Cattle Co. are both good choices to look into that meet your criteria. Rock Creek is more remote if that's what you're looking for.

My understanding is that Rock Creek is not offering new national memberships, and is instead requiring new members to own property there.

[Tom_Doak]

I’m looking to join a club as a National member and was curious if anybody had any specifics.... Ideally looking for a Top 100 type course, walkable, lodging, remote would be preferred ...  A place to escape and just play golf snd relax several times a year.  Any suggestions would be much appreciated.


This will primarily be used in the summers months if that makes a difference in recommendations.

Kingsley and Rock Creek Cattle Co. are both good choices to look into that meet your criteria. Rock Creek is more remote if that's what you're looking for.

Rock Creek is a spectacular place but whether it makes sense depends on where you are coming from.


I am in discussions right now about a new course which might fit your needs, too - site mail me with your whereabouts and I will let you know if it’s a good fit.

[John Kavanaugh]

My first National Membership was at Norwood Hills in St. Louis. Three hours from home in a great city. I live remote.

[Tim Martin]

If you take onsite lodging out as a requirement the list grows exponentially. Way more clubs have a National or non-resident option than people are aware of.

[Bill Seitz]

If you take onsite lodging out as a requirement the list grows exponentially. Way more clubs have a National or non-resident option than people are aware of.

There have been threads on this before, and like you say, if you take out onsite lodging, one of the places that was oft mentioned was Inverness.  Post reno, not sure if that's still the case.  Not exactly remote, though.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Pete Dye GC has a good national membership option.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Perhaps a naive question, but dont you need to be invited to join such a club?


Or, can one now just identify the National Membership you want, call the club, ask for the APP and BOOM...stroke a check and off you go...?


me thinks not, but perhaps I am just not aware.


Any course that has "walk-in" type memberships like that does so for a reason.


My Florida buddies all telling me that even the 3rd tier privates have 2x and 3xed their downstrokes as demand is so high.

[John Kavanaugh]

Perhaps a naive question, but dont you need to be invited to join such a club?


Or, can one now just identify the National Membership you want, call the club, ask for the APP and BOOM...stroke a check and off you go...?


me thinks not, but perhaps I am just not aware.


Any course that has "walk-in" type memberships like that does so for a reason.


My Florida buddies all telling me that even the 3rd tier privates have 2x and 3xed their downstrokes as demand is so high.

I did know a member at Norwood but I joined without ever playing there. They called and asked if they could set up a meeting so they could talk to me and my wife. I told them that my wife would not know I was joining. That was that. Meeting canceled, I was in!!!!


A few days before I called St. Louis CC and asked if I could join. The membership director spent 45 minuets dancing around the question telling me no way in hell and what was I thinking in the nicest way possible. To this day I will never understand the point in taking so long. I think he was blown away by the stupidity of it all.

[Mike_Trenham]

My guess is any established club that does not have a two year wait today (unless it’s one of the elites that never bothers with a waiting list) is destined to fail. Seek out the ones getting built now.

[Brad Payne]

Stonewall outside Philly may fit your need.  Not sure how up to date the website is, but the National rates are really reasonable.


https://www.stonewalllinks.com/Contact/Membership

[Paul Jones]

Stonewall outside Philly may fit your need.  Not sure how up to date the website is, but the National rates are really reasonable.


https://www.stonewalllinks.com/Contact/Membership

Stonewall is wonderful, got to play it last year... but the secret got out and they have a waitlist also.

[John Kavanaugh]

I'd love to provide a service for private clubs where I provide a service identifying members who violate their national membership parameters. It could be a new source of income given the current waitlists. New initiation fees, excited new members who alway spend more that first year or two, elimination of cheating cheat cheats who rarely limit their cheating to one phase of their being. A can't miss for almost everyone.

[Anthony_Nysse]

I suspect that there are a few courses in Florida that fit that criteria, especially enticing this time of year. I may know of 1 in particular that offers the things you're looking for.

[Paul Jones]

I'd love to provide a service for private clubs where I provide a service identifying members who violate their national membership parameters. It could be a new source of income given the current waitlists. New initiation fees, excited new members who alway spend more that first year or two, elimination of cheating cheat cheats who rarely limit their cheating to one phase of their being. A can't miss for almost everyone.

John,


Which policies/parameters could a Natl Member violate?  The only special parameters I know about is I am only allowed to play 15 rounds per year as a Natl Member.

[Tim Martin]

I suspect that there are a few courses in Florida that fit that criteria, especially enticing this time of year. I may know of 1 in particular that offers the things you're looking for.

Tony-The original post stated that the membership would “primarily be used in the Summer months.” Can’t be easy to sell Florida for the Summer.

[Erik Mosley]

Dalhousie in Cape Girardeau, MO doesn't quite crack the top 100, but is pretty well-regarded.  Checks most of the boxes (although a walk in mid-summer could be a bit rough), and they were offering pretty reasonable national memberships as of last summer.

[Doug Lionberger]

All - just wanted to say thank you for all the great recommendations on here as well as through PM.  Very much appreciate it!

[Bill Seitz]

I'd love to provide a service for private clubs where I provide a service identifying members who violate their national membership parameters. It could be a new source of income given the current waitlists. New initiation fees, excited new members who alway spend more that first year or two, elimination of cheating cheat cheats who rarely limit their cheating to one phase of their being. A can't miss for almost everyone.

John,


Which policies/parameters could a Natl Member violate?  The only special parameters I know about is I am only allowed to play 15 rounds per year as a Natl Member.

Residency?  Presumably one would be claiming to be a non-local while spending most of ones time inside the local member boundaries. 

[Jeff Schley]

Doug where do you live or have residence now?


Also budget in general? 


Wide range of options out there.