Golf is an extremely popular sport, but playing at the best, most expensive golf membership in the world comes with a price. How much would you spend on a golf membership? What is the most expensive golf membership in the world? Well, if you had any intention of joining some of America’s finest clubs, you better pony up.
Whether it be business magnates like Bill Gates or celebrities like Sir Sean Connery, many of the rich-and-famous are the most expensive golf membership around the world. Some memberships are by invite only, like Pine Valley in New Jersey (routinely ranked the No. 1 course in the United States), so it’s difficult to know just what it takes to become a member. However, the initiation fee to join some of the most exclusive golf clubs (most expensive golf membership) in the world has been made public over the years. Here is a list of the most expensive golf membership, many of which could be paid for with your winnings from a Masters bet.
With staggering initiation fees and wait lists a mile long, these clubs show no sign of slowing down. It’s somewhat insane to the average person to think that these prices are somewhat common and actually fairly good deals considering. Would you pay these prices? Do you think it’s worth it? Or would you rather play on a public course with a daily fee?
1. Sebonack Golf Club – Most Expensive Golf Membership
Sebonack Golf Club, located in Southampton, Long Island, opened in 2006 and was designed by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Tom Doak. In the beginning, initiation fees were as “low” as $550,000 before jumping to $650,000 in 2008. While we don’t know for sure, initiation fees have recently been rumored to hit the 1 million dollar mark.
2. The Bridge Golf Club
Initiation Fee: $750,000-$850,000
The Bridge is located right in Bridgehampton, Long Island on what was once a race track. Owned by Robert Rubin, the club cost $25 million to build and will cost members up to $750,000 in initiation fees with dues rounding out to $20,000 and taxes a whopping $62,000. The rumor, however, is that the initiation fee is rising and could likely hit around $850,000.
Source: Yahoo! Finance, July 2007; Top Ten Top Ten, August 2012
3. Liberty National Golf Club
Initiation Fee: $450,000-$500,000
Liberty National Golf Club is directly across from Manhattan in Jersey City, New Jersey. With stunning views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline, Liberty National is a course that will cost anywhere from $450,000 to $500,000 in initiation fees.
Source: Links Magazine, August 2012; Top Ten Top Ten, August 2012
4. East Hampton Golf Club
Initiation Fee: $400,000
East Hampton Golf Club is a classic Coore & Crenshaw course that offers golfers a classic Hampton’s golf experience. Started by Pete Bistrian, a potato farmer, East Hampton’s initiation fees have risen from $260,000 to $400,000.
Source: Golf World via Golf Club Atlas, June 2004; Hamptons.com, April 2008; Links Magazine, August 2012
5. Trump National Golf Club—Bedminster
Initiation Fee: $350,000
Trump National Golf Club Bedminster offers potential members a slight discount but only if you know a member and they vouch for you. This club, which opened its doors in 2004, started their initiation fees at $200,000 but have since risen them to $350,000. Know someone inside? They’ll drop the fee from $350,000 to $250,000.
Source: Golf.com, August 2012
6. Hamilton Farm Golf Club
Initiation Fee: $300,000
Hamilton Farm Golf Club is a premiere private New Jersey club that opened in 2001. Located right in Gladstone, the course was designed by Dana Fry and Michael Hurdzan. Initiation fees have reached $300,000.
Source: Links Magazine, August 2012
7. Friar’s Head Golf Club
Initiation Fee: $250,000
Friar’s Head Golf Club is the second course designed by Coore & Crenshaw to make the list. This stunning course located in Riverhead, New York has been buzzing among the golf industry since it’s opening in 2002. Initiation fees are $250,000.
Source: Links Magazine, August 2012
8. Hudson National Golf Club
Initiation Fee: $210,000
Hudson National Golf Club opened in 1996 and is one of the oldest courses on this list. With a course designed by Tom Fazio and a drive from Manhattan that comes in under an hour, this course is a New York favorite. Initiation fees will cost members $210,000.
Source: Links Magazine, August 2012
9. Atlantic Golf Club
Initiation Fee: $200,000
Atlantic Golf Club is another club located in Bridgehampton, New York. With a course designed by Rees Jones, this club can cost its members a rumored $200,000 in initiation fees.
Source: Links Magazine, August 2012
10. Trump National Westchester
Initiation Fee: $200,000
Trump National Golf Club Westchester is located in Briarcliff Manor, New York and was designed by Jim Fazio. It’s no surprise to see another Trump course on this list. Initiation fees for his Westchester club are $200,000.
Source: Links Magazine, August 2012
11. Bayonne Golf Club
Initiation Fee: $150,000
Bayonne Golf Club is located in Bayonne, New Jersey. The course was designed by Eric Bergstol. One of the most prestigious courses in the area, Bayonne requires a $150,000 initiation fee.
Source: Links Magazine, August 2012
With staggering initiation fees and wait lists a mile long, these clubs show no sign of slowing down. It’s somewhat insane to the average person to think that these prices are somewhat common and actually fairly good deals considering. Would you pay these prices? Do you think it’s worth it? Or would you rather play on a public course with a daily fee? Let us know at our article page.
The respective clubs have not confirmed the initiation fees. These numbers were gathered from research, word of mouth and industry insiders.
12. National Golf Links of America
Estimated Dues: $75,000 plus (Initiation Fee)
Opened in 1911, this C.B. Macdonald design is one of the older golf courses found in the exclusive Hamptons area of Long Island, New York (South Hampton to be exact). According to Links magazine, initiation fees at clubs like the National are “relatively low, less than $75,000” although other reports put the joining fee as high as $575,000.
“If you’re not a blue-blood, related to a blue-blood, or service the blue-bloods’ financial, charitable and social trusts, even an unlimited checkbook won’t help,” the magazine said.
Again, this is talking just about the initiation fee wich is separate from annual dues and anything else the club may charge for.
13. Medalist Golf Club
Estimated Dues: $110,000
Medalist Golf Club is home to multiple professional golfers and is located in Hobe Sound, Florida. Designed by Greg Norman, Pete Dye, and Bobby Weed, this pristine track offers awesome views and a tough test for every skill level, especially from the Tiger tees (yes, that Tiger) which stretches it to 7,571 yards. Estimated dues are said to be around $110,000. Check it out.
14. The Bear’s Club
Estimated Dues: $115,000
Founded by the Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus, and his wife Barbara, the appropriately named Bear’s Club is an exclusive club in Jupiter, Florida which several Tour players call home. It offers a five-star country club experience with amenities and dining catered to basically every one of your needs. Plus the real estate in the surrounding area is as good as it gets in golf. Check it out.
15, Sherwood Country Club
Estimated Dues: $160,000-$200,000 (Initiation); $7,300 (Annual)
Sherwood Country Club is another Jack Nicklaus designed course located in Thousand Oaks, California. It boasts around 475 members some of which included Hollywood’s finest. As opposed to some other clubs, Sherwood welcomes celebrities. In fact, a few of their past and present members include Sean Connery, Wayne Gretzky, and Sylvester Stallone. Tiger Woods hold the course record when he shot 62 back in 1997 and then again in 2013. Check it out.
16. Trump National Los Angeles
Estimated Dues: $193,000
President Donald Trump has his name on this spectacular piece of property located in Rancho Palos Verdes, California on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. With three world-class restaurants and unmatched service, a Trump National Los Angeles membership is a steal at just under an estimated $200,000. Check it out.
17. Hillcrest Country Club
Estimated Dues: $185,000-$275,000
The pristine fairways and greens combined with its top-of-the-line amenities and convenient Los Angeles, California location make Hillcrest Country Club a prime option for celebrities and people who could afford dues in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. It sits across from Fox Studios and was home to Groucho Marx, even though he once famously proclaimed that he would not want to be a member of any club willing to have him as a member. Check it out.
18. The Madison Club
Estimated Dues: $250,000
The Madison Club promotes itself as “the most exclusive private residential community in La Quinta,” for good reason. Besides boasting some of the most beautiful real-estate in the country, it offers the ultimate country club experience thanks in part to a 56,000 square foot clubhouse. Dues are estimated to be close to a quarter of a million dollars. Check it out.
19. Loblolly Pines Golf Club
Estimated Dues: $275,000
Money works in most situations, but you need to be sponsored by a member to join this uber-exclusive club located in Hobe Sound, Florida. In addition to the spectacular Pete and J.B. Dye designed golf course, the club boasts a world-class spa, it’s own marina, and of course, some fabulous real estate. Check it out.
20. Big Horn Golf Club
Estimated Dues: $325,000 (Initiation Fee)
Located in Palm Desert, California this residential golf community requires you to live on the property to even think about having a membership. “Bighorn’s stunning terrain and history-making tournament play have made the Arthur Hills-designed Mountains and the Tom Fazio-designed Canyons courses two of golf’s most legendary 18’s,” the club’s website says. For an estimated initiation fee of $325,000, we sure hope so. Check it out.
21. Liberty National Golf Club – Most Expensive Golf Membership
Estimated Dues: $500,000
Liberty National Golf Club boasts an absurd $500,000 in estimated dues to belong here. Located in Jersey City with exclusive views of New York City and Statue of Liberty, it makes it makes it one of the desirable memberships around. It’s played host to the Northern Trust (formerly The Barclays), the FedEx Cup’s first playoff event, and will host the 2017 Presidents Cup. Check it out.