Sorry for my ignorance, but I am just curious. I know memberships are expensive, but how bad are they?
I drive home and play with my parents because they add me as a member at a couple country clubs, however, with my buddys, we play cheap municipal courses for like 20 bucks a round. I've heard that they can get pretty pricey but really, what is the range?

In all honesty, it just depends. The range is from $500 to $1 million.

Ok, yea, I figured it was some huge range like that. Don't you have to buy the "membership" outright and then pay a monthly due? Obviously 1 mm is in the way upper end, but what would it cost in terms of a regular Nicklaus designed course or something that is private only.

All private course memberships are going to be a bit spendy. Most require an initiation fee and then your course fees. I haven't seen too many with monthly dues other than a dining minimum.

The semi-private or public courses also have membership plans and those are usually quite a bit cheaper.

I have a golf membership at a public course ($90/round) and it's ~$3,000 per year.

And completely dependant upon where you live....

Most clubs have an initiation fee.....average $15,000-$20,000 depending on where you live.

Most clubs have a monthly fee.....average $250-$500.

Most clubs have a monthly or quarterly food spending requirement....$150-$300 per quarter.

You have to pay for a cart ($20) per round, and guest fees are usually $80-$125 per person.

If you are below 35, most clubs will reduce these amounts substantially until you "grow" into the membership.

It's expensive and you will never be able to rationalize it financially unless you do it for business purposes. I've done the math and I would have to golf almost everyday year round to make it make sense. Given I live in Ohio and the golf season lasts about 6 months, it would be stupid to join a private club. I've got the money, but certainly don't have enough to go catch it on fire!

South Orange County and West Los Angeles.....I love visiting the south because the courses are so nice and much more affordable.

Ward,
In LA, the cheapest membership I have seen is for people under 39 at a very nice club, and starts at 20k. Then you add monthly's, food, and a yearly fee that goes into your full membership at the age of 39. LA is very expensive.
One club in LA, that I think is horrible, is about 55-70k to get in.

Joining a club is not for everyone but it does have a lot advantages. Looking from your location (LA) the initiation fee range is very wide. For most jr members the initiation fee is much lower and you don't have to take a caddy.

Where in LA/OC do the initiations vary? Are there places that are lower?
I know Newport CC is actually a great price for people under 40. Its a nice course, great location, holds the Seniors every year.

Wow, interesting info. I didn't know that you get a break for being younger. For now, I'll continue to mooch off my parents memberships because I am nowhere near having income that can justify spending that kind of money for such a luxury that is not crucial to survival.....or is it? haha.

Its amazing what some people will pay for golf. Worked on a golf course in High School, $250,000 dollar initiation fee. Some ridiculously wealthy people there. Dr's, lawyers, pro athletes, etc were members.

At my club in Kansas (36 hole facility 18 public / 18 private, members have access to both):

3k initiation ... running some special that if you commit for 3 years it is only 1k.
junior-single dues (under 40): 195/month
quarterly minimum: 60/quarter

range balls, carts, lockers, club storage are all extra ... but reasonable.

like others have said, location varies ... i think it is the best deal in golf.

This is the single most important factor. Location is everything. For instance...... A club near my house, where they hold The Corning Classic (LPGA event) is a private club and has annual fees of only $1,800 per year for a single person membership. A simlar quality course in the northern VA/ DC area, where I lived for only a couple years, was about $15-25k a year.

The club I join is semi-private and costs $950/year for a single person membership. Range balls, carts, lockers, etc, all cost extra, but can be purchased a year at a time as well, but the prices are reasonable. I think it's around $200 for unlimited range balls and around $450 for a cart for the season. Similar courses in the northern VA/ DC area, that I was looking to join when I was down there were in the $7k/year range.

Location, not only because of the local economy, but because of the length of the season, have a lot to do with it. Our season only goes from about the end of April until maybe mid-October. So really, you're paying for about half a year of golf. However, were you to double the fees around here, they're still much cheaper than similar courses in more populated areas.

Best deals going...... memberships at state run golf courses. I'm not sure what other state courses are like, but there's a couple near me in NY that are very reasonable ($500 a year for single) and the courses are maintained pretty well. If I loved a little closer to the, I'd probably join those as well.

I'm a member of a private club in South Texas. As a junior member (under 40 years old) initiation was $500 and monthly dues are $250. For a regular member ship I think it is $2500/$300. Still not bad considering it includes tennis, pool, driving range and a full gym.

My local municipal course has a $800 annual fee, with $8 cart fee. Not bad for a 2004 Golf Digest best new affordable course.

Local muni courses range from 300 to 500 or the 5 for1 for 750...2 -18 hole and 3- 9 holers

Pretty cheap compared to some.