OT-Initiation Fees still going up?

[Matt MacIver]

@ Cary
In Miami,  Shell Bay Club, however, $250-500k is a drop in the bucket. It’s buying a burger at McDonald’s compared to an expensive steak as Shell Bay Club in Hallandale Beach, Florida is looking for a $1 million membership fee.

I think the quote below as well as the picture of the driving range range justifies the price tag…it’s a Norman design, perhaps he’s been busy with LIV- related ventures. 


Links-style fairways resonate with the expanse of the sky.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Here's the 2024 version of the UK guest fees for the top 100 courses, an update of last year that was posted above:

[Wayne_Kozun]

The blog entry from UK Golf Guy is here
Some interesting things he notes:

Members are benefitting, but at what cost?
I have membership subs data from about half of the top 30 courses, and every single one is pushing up green fee income at a faster rate than members’ subscriptions.
You might think that’s great and that members should get the benefit from this.
And that’s fair, up to a point. But this move is fundamentally changing the face of some golf clubs. Many have closed their waiting lists totally or are only admitting a tiny number of new members every year. There is zero turnover in the membership. No-one leaves - why would you when you are getting your membership for a song? - and so no one can join.
It used to be that when people moved away, or started a family they would leave a club knowing they could join again in a few years, but not any more. In some cases you literally have to be carried out in a coffin before you give up your membership.
This is not a good thing. Courses need to regenerate. They need fresh blood. Those new to the game need to be able to join somewhere, people moving to an area need somewhere to play.
Where I live, in Gullane, no-one who has moved into the area will become a member of the club for generations. Two years ago there were over 300 people on the waiting list and they let in two ordinary members in. The system is broken.

[David Jones]

Thanks for sharing. I have updated this on my website as North Berwick is actually £240 not £250 and somehow Woburn has crept in four times. Which is definitely at least one too many...


I do feel strongly about the lack of regeneration of golf club memberships. People so rarely leave a top golf course over here any more and that is causing a real issue.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Thanks for sharing. I have updated this on my website as North Berwick is actually £240 not £250 and somehow Woburn has crept in four times. Which is definitely at least one too many...

I updated the link, hopefully this one is better!

[Tommy Williamsen]

I guess the market will bear these price increases. I'm just glad I played the top courses when they were more reasonable.

[Buck Wolter]

Experiences over things

[AChao]

One issue that I'm experiencing that isn't talked about much is that not only are initiation fees going up, dues are going up AND the product is getting worse ... in that golf courses are more crowded, takes longer to play, harder to get the tee time you want, range balls getting worse faster, course conditions worse because more people are playing, etc.  At one club I'm familiar with, rounds are down about 5% versus last year, but still up over 60% pre-Covid.  Meanwhile, initiation fees have more that doubled and monthly dues are almost double since pre-Covid.  At some point, I've got to think people will think it's not worth it to pay so much and initiation fees will go down, but I'm not seeing that yet where I'm at.

[Mark Chaplin]

Wayne appreciate it’s a play on words but UK guest fees are vastly different to visitor fees at most clubs. Those £250 rounds become £20-40 if a member is signing you in.


David Jones lack of membership churn is only an issue if the club relies heavily on joining fees or you are on a waiting list. Neither make it a problem.