Golf Courses with Six Figure Entry Fees
Most people think country club memberships come with big fees. That’s true in many cases, but some golf courses charge amounts that sound completely unreal.
These aren’t just regular private clubs. They’re at the absolute top of the pricing ladder, where initiation fees alone can cost more than most Americans earn in several years.
Getting through the doors at these places takes more than just cash, though the cash part really matters. Many require invitations, property ownership, or connections to current members.
The Bridge
Robert Rubin founded The Bridge in Bridgehampton, New York back in 2002 on the site where the Bridgehampton Motor Racing Circuit once stood. Initiation fees reportedly reach around $1.5 million today, making it one of the most expensive golf clubs anywhere.
The course stretches 7,341 yards and was designed by Rees Jones, Keith Evans, and Bryce Swanson. The clubhouse looks nothing like traditional country clubs with its modern glass walls and futuristic design.
Members can wear jeans and cargo shorts, breaking from the stuffy dress codes common at older clubs. The property covers 300 acres with views overlooking Sag Harbor and Peconic Bay.
Liberty National
Former Reebok CEO Paul Fireman created Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey in 2006 after spending over $250 million on construction. Initial membership costs around $450,000 to $500,000, with annual dues running about $25,000.
The course sits right on the Hudson River with direct views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline from every single green. Members can take a private ferry from Manhattan that gets them to the course in about 10 minutes, making it practical for busy executives.
Tom Kite and Robert Cupp designed the 18-pit championship course that has hosted PGA Tour events including The Northern Trust and the Presidents Cup.
Augusta National
Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia hosts The Masters every year, making it probably the most famous golf club anywhere. The club stays incredibly private about membership details.
Estimates place the initiation fee between $250,000 and $500,000, though nobody outside the club knows the exact number. Annual dues reportedly run around $30,000.
Only about 300 members belong at any time, and you need an invitation to join. The course features perfectly maintained fairways and greens that look almost unreal on television.
Getting invited requires connections most people simply don’t have.
Fisher Island Club
Fisher Island Club sits on Fisher Island near Miami Beach, Florida and takes exclusivity to another level entirely. Membership requires owning property on Fisher Island itself, with initiation fees around $250,000 and annual dues up to $25,000.
Members get access to a private beach, marina for their yachts, spa facilities, aviary, observatory, and an 18-pit golf course. The island can only be reached by ferry or private boat since no bridge connects it to mainland Miami.
This isolation adds to the privacy that ultra-wealthy members seek.
Trump National Golf Club
Donald Trump owns several golf clubs, but Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey ranks among the most expensive. Initiation fees reportedly range between $125,000 and $350,000 depending on membership category, plus thousands more in annual dues.
The course hosted a LIV Golf event in 2022 which created controversy but brought attention to the facilities. Members and their families get full access to two championship courses and all club amenities.
The property includes extensive practice facilities and a clubhouse with dining and event spaces.
Madison Club
The Madison Club in La Quinta, California charges $300,000 for initiation with annual dues around $45,000. Bill Gates owns a residence backing up to the golf course at this exclusive desert community.
Tom Fazio designed the 18-pit course that winds through the property with views of mountains and lakes. The 80,000-square-foot clubhouse includes a full spa, wellness center, and multiple restaurants.
Membership stays limited to homeowners in the Madison Club residential community, keeping the course relatively uncrowded.
Vintage Club
Also located in La Quinta, California, Vintage Club has similar fees with $300,000 initiation and $45,000 annual dues. Bill Gates also owns property here, as do many tech industry leaders and celebrities.
The club features two Tom Fazio-designed courses plus extensive tennis facilities and pools. Desert landscape surrounds the property with mountain views creating scenery that looks almost painted.
The club maintains strict privacy for its members who value discretion above almost everything else.
Cherokee Town and Country Club
Cherokee Town and Country Club in Atlanta, Georgia charges roughly $200,000 for initiation with annual dues around $7,500. The club operates two locations with golf courses in both Buckhead and Sandy Springs areas.
Members get access to multiple swimming pools, 16 tennis courts, and both championship golf courses. The club’s art collection is actually open for public viewing by appointment, which is unusual for such an exclusive private club.
Membership requires an invitation, and the waiting list reportedly stretches quite long.
Shinnecock Hills
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York counts among the oldest golf clubs in America. Membership initiation costs approximately $250,000.
The course has hosted the U.S. Open multiple times, most recently in 2018. The property overlooks Peconic Bay with classic links-style design that tests even the best professional golfers.
Membership here carries huge prestige in golf circles, probably second only to Augusta National. Getting invited requires serious connections within the upper levels of society.
Los Angeles Country Club
Los Angeles Country Club charges around $250,000 for membership initiation. The club hosted the 2023 U.S. Open on its North Course, bringing massive attention to facilities that had remained largely hidden from public view for decades.
The property sits in the heart of Los Angeles but feels completely removed from the surrounding city. Members include entertainment industry executives, business leaders, and old-money families from Southern California.
The club’s main course ranks consistently among the top layouts in America.
Cypress Point Club
Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, California maintains such intense privacy that exact membership costs remain largely unknown. Estimates suggest initiation fees exceed $200,000.
The course ranks among the most beautiful anywhere with dramatic Pacific Ocean coastlines and cypress trees creating unforgettable scenery. Alister MacKenzie designed the layout in the 1920s, and it remains relatively unchanged.
The 16th pit plays over the ocean and ranks among the most photographed golf courses in the world. Membership stays tiny with only around 250 members total.
Congressional Country Club
Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland just outside Washington D.C. charges $180,000 for initiation with $15,000 annual dues. Presidents and politicians have belonged here for generations, making it a hub for political power players.
The club hosted the U.S. Open in 2011 and numerous other major championships. Two championship courses give members variety, and the location near the nation’s capital attracts members from government, business, and international diplomacy.
Woodrow Wilson was among the early members, establishing the club’s connection to political power.
Oakmont Country Club
Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania requires $200,000 for membership initiation. The course has hosted the U.S. Open nine times, more than any other venue.
Oakmont’s reputation for difficulty is well-earned with incredibly fast greens and deep bunkers that punish mistakes severely. The club takes its golf seriously with minimal non-golf amenities compared to other expensive clubs.
Members come for the pure golf experience on one of the most challenging and historic courses in America.
Preston Trail Golf Club
Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas, Texas represents old-money Texas establishment. Initiation fees reach $235,000 with monthly dues around $2,250, making it the most expensive club in the state.
The club maintains a traditional, no-frills approach focusing purely on golf. There are no swimming pools or tennis courts, just the golf course and a clubhouse filled with memorabilia.
Baseball legend Mickey Mantle spent much of his time here after retiring in 1969. The club encourages walking the course with caddies rather than using golf carts.
Royal and Ancient Golf Club
Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews, Scotland charges approximately $200,000 for membership. The club is considered the Home of Golf and holds enormous prestige throughout the golf world.
Until 2015, the club maintained a male-only membership policy before finally welcoming female members. Membership comes by invitation only for the roughly 2,500 members from around the globe.
The club’s influence extends beyond just golf, as it governed the rules of golf worldwide until recently transferring that role to a separate organization.
Dallas National Golf Club
Dallas National in Dallas, Texas commands initiation fees over $200,000. The course features dramatic elevation changes of up to 160 feet, unusual for Texas golf.
Limestone canyons and winding creek beds create scenery that doesn’t look like typical Texas landscape. Both Golf Digest and Golf Week consistently rank it among the top 100 courses in America.
The property spans over 400 acres giving members plenty of space and privacy during rounds.
Yellowstone Club
Hidden among Montana’s peaks, a spot called Yellowstone Club asks around three hundred thousand dollars just to join. Yearly fees after that hit thirty-six grand.
Golf swings here blend with fresh powder turns unlike any place else on Earth. A designer named Tom Weiskopf shaped eighteen pits facing rugged mountain views.
Skiers glide down personal trails near Big Sky Resort, sometimes riding lifts shared with outside visitors. A home within the Yellowstone Club’s boundaries is needed to join.
When the economy crashed in 2008, financial troubles hit the club hard enough to trigger bankruptcy – yet full recovery followed in time.
Vaquero Club
High up in the rankings, Vaquero Club rests near Westlake, Texas – just a stretch between Dallas and Fort Worth. Built by Tom Fazio across land once owned by the Hunt brothers at their Circle T Ranch, it spreads over 525 acres.
Opened in 2001, its reputation grew fast among wealthy players seeking top-tier golf in North Texas. Costs here climb higher than nearly every nearby club when counting both entry fees and ongoing payments.
Seclusion stands out; few homes or buildings break the quiet around the fairways.
Money stops being the whole story once other needs show up
Expensive greens fees? Just the beginning. Gaining entry often means knowing someone already inside.
Owning land nearby helps. So does having a member vouch for you.
Cash by itself fails at places like Augusta National, Cypress Point, or Royal and Ancient. Who you know weighs heavily there.
Closeness isn’t accidental – it’s guarded carefully. Preserving that tight circle matters as much as perfect fairways.
A price keeps some out while paying for top care of greens, workers, rooms. To members, it feels like little money for much more than just playing – entry to a world built around connection, routine, belonging.
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