Naples Area Golf Courses
Golf course communities in the Naples and Bonita Springs area come in several different varieties. The first distinction is whether the club is “Bundled” or not.
Bundled Golf Course Communities
When you purchase a home in these communities, you are automatically a member of the golf club. There is no equity or deposit required to become a member. Although, minor transfer fees may apply. Basically, the value of the home includes the value of the golf course membership. They cannot be separated.
The biggest drawback is that as the bundled clubs become filled, the availability of tee times becomes more restricted. Compare the typical “built out” bundled community of 700 or so players to the typical non-bundled community of 300 to 350 players.
Golf Course Communities—Non Bundled
The Non-Bundled courses have some type of “up-front” fee to join (part of which may be called “equity” in which case you might receive some money back if you left the club or sold your membership). Their annual dues are normally higher than at a Bundled Community…but there are far fewer members. The two types of Non-Bundled clubs are:
Golf Membership Required:
Here you would buy a home and then you are required to purchase the golf membership.
Golf Membership Not Required:
Homeowners within the community have no mandatory connection with the club (except that some clubs are now requiring at least social memberships if you live within the gates). Some of these clubs have no homes on the property.
| Factor | Non Bundled Membership | Bundled Membership |
| Initiations | Voluntary Application | Tied together to Title to Property |
| Cost of Initiation | Can be anywhere between approximately $10,000 – $250,000 |
$0.00 |
| Upon Resignation, what happens to money paid in for Initiations? | Will vary based on Club Policy. In some cases, some % of the prevailing rate will be returned. This is called an “Equity” contribution. At other clubs, nothing is returned. Still other clubs have hybrid policies with a choice between an “Equity” membership and a “Non-Equity” Membership | Tied together to Title to Property and passes automatically to the new owner at closing. |
| Number of Members per 18 holes |
Can vary between 225 – 400 The lower the number … the more cost per member |
Given – Every front door is a full member … but not all play golf. #’s will vary between about 560 – 850 front doors / 18 holes. |
| Annual Dues | Will vary from about $5,000 – $10,000+ / year + Sales Tax! The lower the # of memberships, the higher the dues. | Divided by the number of front doors. Typically, dues will run from about $1,600 – $4,500 a year. |
| Food & Beverage Minimums | They will vary between $600 to over $1,000. Some clubs restrict the minimum to food purchases only. | Rarely, but when they do exist, they will approximate $900. |
| Advantages – Disadvantages | Ease of tee times versus Cost | Affordability versus possible difficult tee times in season. |
Why F & B Minimums ?
Because, so often club owners are ‘seasonal’ and the club needs average monthly cash flows to maintain high levels of quality service.