How to Join a Private Golf Club in South Florida: Costs, Process and Questions to Ask

Key takeaways

• Joining a private golf club in South Florida is two decisions: whether you can get in, and whether the structure is worth the money.
• Published costs vary enormously. One local guide cites $50,000 to $250,000 or more to join plus $10,000 to $25,000 a year. Agent estimates for the most sought-after clubs run into seven figures.
• Equity memberships may be partly refundable and carry assessments and voting rights. Non-equity memberships usually do not refund your deposit.
• Ask for the numbers in writing: what is due now, what recurs, what can be assessed later, and what you get back when you leave.

For many owners and executives, a club is where business and leisure meet: a round with a client, a dinner with the family, a place that is quiet when you need it to be. It is also a large, long-term financial commitment, and the terms differ from club to club.

This guide explains how private golf club membership works in South Florida, what it can cost, how the approval process runs, and what to ask before you sign. It relies on published reporting and guides, and we say where figures are estimates.

How much does a private golf club membership cost in South Florida?

There is no single price. Costs depend on the club, the membership category and whether it is tied to a home purchase. The figures below come from different sources, are not directly comparable, and should be treated as ranges.

Fortune also reported, citing the Financial Times, that many top South Florida clubs have doubled or tripled their fees since the pandemic. Most clubs also charge food and beverage minimums, and some add assessments for capital projects. Evensky gives a $50,000 clubhouse renovation assessment as an example and calls such assessments uncommon.

The same guide suggests keeping club-related costs under 10 percent of annual income. That is one adviser's rule of thumb, not a standard.

What is the difference between equity and non-equity membership?

This is the most important structural question. The definitions below come from a GolfPass article written by the head of a membership advisory firm and labeled as sponsored content, so treat it as one adviser's explanation.

• Equity membership: You may get some money back when you leave, but payment depends on the club's resignation list and its reserves, and you may keep paying dues until your spot is filled. Equity members can usually vote on major decisions and are responsible for assessments. Equity value can rise or fall.
• Non-equity membership: You generally get no refund of your deposit, have no vote and hold no ownership certificate. You can usually leave at any time and owe no dues after you go. Assessments are typically not charged, though exceptions exist. It often costs less.

Hybrids exist, such as equity with governance rights but no refund. Club documents vary, so read the actual membership agreement and bylaws.

How does the approval process work?

Each club sets its own rules. A guide published by a private club in North Carolina describes the common pattern at selective clubs:

1. Sponsorship: one primary sponsor and often two to five secondary sponsors, all members in good standing. At some clubs you cannot request sponsorship directly.
2. Application: personal and career history, references and, at some clubs, financial disclosures.
3. Committee review: possible background checks and an interview, often over a meal at the club.
4. Posting period: your name may be posted for members to comment, commonly 30 to 90 days.
5. Vote: by committee, board or membership, with thresholds that vary.
6. Waiting period and onboarding: common even after approval.

That source is a promotional page for one club, so it describes the typical process rather than any South Florida club in particular. Fortune reported that La Gorce requires five sponsors, again according to an agent, and has a waitlist of years.

How long are the waitlists?

Golf Digest reported in May 2025 that 46 percent of U.S. private clubs have waitlists, up from about a quarter before the pandemic. Some clubs now have waits of up to seven years, and new members may get restricted golf privileges. Waits are generally shorter in the South than in the North.

The speed of a waitlist depends on how many members resign each year, not on how long the list is. Golf Digest cited club resignations falling from 5 to 6 percent a year before the pandemic to 3 to 4 percent.

The picture is not the same everywhere. The same article reported that some Sunbelt clubs, including some in Naples, became more available after fees rose, with available memberships there going from five to 17. Fortune's reporting suggests the most sought-after Miami and Palm Beach clubs remain harder to enter.

Do you need to buy a home to join?

Sometimes. At some clubs membership is tied to a residence, and at others it is separate. Fortune reported that Shell Bay accepts new members only if they buy a residence. In golf communities, membership may be mandatory with the home or optional, and that changes the cost of buying. Check whether the club is member-owned or developer-controlled, because that decides who sets fees and approves assessments.

What should you ask before you join?

Ask for these answers in writing, adapted from a South Florida luxury real estate publication's list of capital contribution questions:

• What is due at contract, approval and closing, and what recurs?
• Is each payment refundable, transferable or forfeited?
• Who controls the club, and who can approve assessments? Are there limits?
• If you leave, how long does a refund take, and are dues payable until then?
• Can you join through a trust or company, and what happens on death or transfer?
• Who has use of the club: family, guests, adult children, renters?
• Will a future buyer pay a new contribution, and who bears any portion?

Also ask for the club's most recent financial statements and the number of members on the resignation list. These show how healthy the club is and how long a refund might take.

Is a club membership worth it?

That depends on how often you will play, what you will use besides golf, and how the club fits your business life. Count dining, tennis, social events and the networking value as well as rounds played. If you travel a lot or split the year, ask about summer, seasonal or limited memberships. Evensky notes that some clubs discount from May through October.

Before you commit, speak to your accountant and an attorney about tax treatment and how to hold the membership. Those are individual decisions we cannot make for you.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to join a private golf club in South Florida? One local guide cites $50,000 to $250,000 or more in initiation fees plus $10,000 to $25,000 a year. Agent estimates for the most sought-after clubs run to $1 million or more. Ask the club for its current schedule.

What is the difference between equity and non-equity membership? Equity may be partly refundable, carries voting rights and exposes you to assessments. Non-equity generally does not refund your deposit, has no vote and usually carries no assessments.

Do you need sponsors to join? Many selective clubs require one or more members to sponsor you. The number varies by club.

How long is the wait to join? Some clubs have no wait, and some have waits of years. Golf Digest reported waits of up to seven years at some clubs.

Can you join without buying a home? At many clubs, yes, but some tie membership to a residence. Confirm the rule before you make an offer on a property.

Are initiation fees refundable? Sometimes. Equity deposits may be partly refunded after you leave, subject to the club's reserves and resignation list. Non-equity deposits generally are not.

What is a golf club assessment? It is an extra charge to members for a capital project or shortfall. Equity members are usually responsible for it, and the governing documents set the limits.

Sources checked

Fortune, August 2024, South Florida country clubs; Golf Digest, May 2025, waitlists; Evensky, costs of country club living in South Florida; GolfPass (sponsored content), equity vs non-equity; Burlingame Country Club, membership process; Million Luxury, capital contribution questions. Figures are estimates, several are undated, and clubs change their terms often.