I'm in search of some country club membership advice for a friend.  Here are my not so hypothetical circumstances:

A friend has received an offer of funding for membership in any elite club he desires (and can get into).  The offer is for an initiation fee of up to $500k and subsequent dues.  My friend is currently a member at a full service club in the DC area so he does not necessarily need a convenient club but instead can indulge in a destination or prestigious club.  

My questions for the treehouse is this:  

What would you recommend to my friend?  Keeping in mind that he is not a GCA aficionado but does appreciate a good golf hole when he sees it.  Also, travel is not an issue so the entire country is an option but something in the Mid-Atlantic and/or Tri-State area may be preferrable.  However, much to my chagrin, eastern Long Island could be a tough (but maybe not impossible) sell to the party making the offer.

How difficult is it to gain membership to the super elite courses?  My friend is incredibly well connected and can likely reach out to a member or to someone with ties to most of the great U.S. courses.

As a friend who will undoubtedly receive guest benefits wherever he joins, I'm lobbying hard for him to join somewhere great.  However, I really have no idea if it's even possible to join someplace like Sand Hills, NGLA or Winged Foot.  

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  

If your friend needs this kind of help, maybe he ought to hire a few GCA aficianados for consulting services to accompany him on a tour.

My seeking advice here should not be interpreted as an "open casting call."  I simply am seeking practical advice as to which courses can be considered.  I'm not looking for help getting into any clubs ... that is my friends problem to deal with when the time comes.  

Bob -- My friend does have an idea of what he wants (RTJ and Kinloch have been mentioned a few times).  But he is willing to consider other options and I thought it would be helpful to seek input from people more knowledgeable than I.  

As for the $500k, obviously that number is extreme but the person making the offer has no idea how much initiation fees run.  Given that RTJ, Congressional, and other DC clubs are over $100k, the high dollar figure was offered to make it clear that he can think big if he wants to.

 

If your friend doesn't spend his $500,000 allotment, perhaps his benefactor can forward me some of the difference.  I'm not greedy--I only need $50,000 to join Ballyneal.

It will be very hard to buy into most of the big name great old courses.  Among old courses, Prairie Dunes, Oakmont, and Pasatiempo will likely accept a new member.  It depends how well connected your friend is, who he knows and where.

Living in DC, I think I'd try Friar's Head first, based on the beautiful pictures in Ran's writeup.  I can't comment on Sebonack yet.

Kinloch is a very nice course and a great club.  Everything is strictly first class.

Bill McBride -- Yes, he does belong to a club in DC (not Congressional, but another old DC club).  This would be a second club which is why he can consider something outside of the Mid-Atlantic.  

You've probably already thought of this, but since he already belongs to a club in DC and travel isn't an issue, I would look south or west to a course that is open for more than half the year.

500K club, does that exist?  I am sure there are a lot of great clubs to join for around 100K-250K.  500K is nutz, even if money grows on trees.  If one can afford that, they can also afford to build their own golf course.

All I can say is that your guy must be a good negotiator to have a $500K golf membership as part of an employment package!

I'm sure Seminole can be bought

No, membership at Seminole cannot be bought.

Thinking of warm weather spots that I would consider if it was me:

Desert Forest
The Valley Club
Yeamans Hall
Austin Golf Club

I like the Valley Club idea--MacKenzie, Doak, Santa Barbara--sounds like a winner to me.