Golf's Popularity Boom Comes with a Price Tag: A $40,000 Initiation Fee for Some of America's Most Exclusive Clubs
As the COVID-19 pandemic brought people together in search of a "third place" – outside of their homes and workplaces – golf experienced a surprising surge in popularity. The sport's growth has been accompanied by significant increases in costs across the board, from local municipal courses to exclusive country clubs.
The influx of new players has led to an estimated 40% rise in prices, with many major country clubs now charging initiation fees that are often prohibitively expensive for all but the most affluent golfers. In the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, where some top-tier country clubs previously offered affordable membership options with little or no initiation fee, those days are now behind them.
The cost of joining a high-end country club can be staggering. The Club at Golden Valley in Minnesota, for example, has raised its initiation fee from $5,000 to a whopping $39,500, while monthly dues have increased from around $400 to over $800. In Scottsdale, Arizona, the Silverleaf Club boasts an eye-watering initiation fee of $400,000, which is often tied into real estate transactions and can make buying a home on the course a much more expensive proposition.
Destination golf has also become increasingly pricey as popular courses like Pebble Beach, Bay Hill, and TPC San Antonio require a stay to play. The cost of booking tee times at these top-ranked public courses has increased from $550 to over $675 per round, with a mandatory resort stay that can add an additional $1,400 surcharge.
While some golf-centric resorts like Bandon Dunes in Oregon have managed to keep prices relatively stable, others are feeling the pressure. Sand Valley Resort, which recently announced plans for two new courses, has seen its prices remain steady despite the added complexity of offering more comprehensive experiences for golfers.
As the sport's popularity continues to soar, it remains to be seen how long golf can sustain its pricing trajectory without becoming prohibitively expensive for all but the most dedicated and affluent players.
As the COVID-19 pandemic brought people together in search of a "third place" – outside of their homes and workplaces – golf experienced a surprising surge in popularity. The sport's growth has been accompanied by significant increases in costs across the board, from local municipal courses to exclusive country clubs.
The influx of new players has led to an estimated 40% rise in prices, with many major country clubs now charging initiation fees that are often prohibitively expensive for all but the most affluent golfers. In the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, where some top-tier country clubs previously offered affordable membership options with little or no initiation fee, those days are now behind them.
The cost of joining a high-end country club can be staggering. The Club at Golden Valley in Minnesota, for example, has raised its initiation fee from $5,000 to a whopping $39,500, while monthly dues have increased from around $400 to over $800. In Scottsdale, Arizona, the Silverleaf Club boasts an eye-watering initiation fee of $400,000, which is often tied into real estate transactions and can make buying a home on the course a much more expensive proposition.
Destination golf has also become increasingly pricey as popular courses like Pebble Beach, Bay Hill, and TPC San Antonio require a stay to play. The cost of booking tee times at these top-ranked public courses has increased from $550 to over $675 per round, with a mandatory resort stay that can add an additional $1,400 surcharge.
While some golf-centric resorts like Bandon Dunes in Oregon have managed to keep prices relatively stable, others are feeling the pressure. Sand Valley Resort, which recently announced plans for two new courses, has seen its prices remain steady despite the added complexity of offering more comprehensive experiences for golfers.
As the sport's popularity continues to soar, it remains to be seen how long golf can sustain its pricing trajectory without becoming prohibitively expensive for all but the most dedicated and affluent players.
40k initiation fee at a country club?!?! like what even is that lol? some ppl r really willing 2 pay those prices tho. i mean, if u can afford it, go for it, but what about all the newbies who wanna get into golf? dont they deserve access to this sport too 
? and w/ the prices rising so fast, its like... how much longer can golf keep up with itself 
maybe golf courses shd consider more affordable options 4 those on a budget 
. I mean, I get that exclusive clubs have a long history of being pricey, but $40k initiation fee? That's just crazy 
. What's next? Are they gonna charge us extra for breathing on the course? 
It's not like we're all made of money, you know? And it's not fair to those who are already struggling to make ends meet. I mean, what about people who want to play golf but can't afford it because of costs like this? 
, that's already $675 + a hotel stay = $1,400... and if you wanna live on the course too 
, good luck with that! It's crazy how one of the most laid-back sports can turn into a super exclusive club thing.
and now I'm good lol. golf is already so expensive, why do people gotta make it even crazier? 
but seriously though, $40k is like what i make in a year or something 
. I mean, I get it, some of these exclusive clubs have been around for ages and cater to a specific crowd, but $39,500 initiation fee is just ridiculous 
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. But 40k initiation fee? That's just crazy talk! I mean, I've heard of exclusive clubs having high prices, but this is just ridiculous. What's next, $100k dues? It's hard enough for regular people to afford a house in these areas without being expected to shell out tens of thousands just to play a round of golf.
. I'm all for supporting local businesses, but this is just getting out of hand. Golf has been around for centuries, and now it's becoming a luxury item? It's not fair to people who actually enjoy playing the game and can't afford these prices.
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. It's like, if you want to play Pebble Beach or Bay Hill, you have to stay at a fancy resort and pay top dollar for it. I'm not sure that's what golf was supposed to be about 
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like i remember when my fave celeb was all about playing golf & being chill at the course, now its all about who's got deep pockets