First and foremost, check out the course and see if it's to your liking. If you can play it, great, if not then they should at least take you for a ride around the course. You wouldn't buy a house or a car sight unseen and the same should apply to joining a private club. Next inspect all the amenities. If you have a family, using the pool or tennis might be more to their liking. Some clubs are strictly golf clubs, with no other amenities, so you need to know. Finally, check out ALL costs such as dues, initiation fee, cart and trail fees and monthly or annual minimum spending. Write a list with all your questions. You mentioned that you were looking a 2 different clubs, so do this procedure at both. After you make your decision, go and enjoy. After years of knocking around public and semi's, I have not regretted joining private clubs. I have belonged to several and have enjoyed them all.

Check for all fees beyond initiation and annual, including range, cart, and dining minimums. Check on ownership and how secure they are. With lean capital reserves, club house maintenance or course updates may involve substantial assessments as one time fees.

Agreed with all!

Hey Rich,
I live in Charlotte and belong to Firethorne and love Bermuda Run. Some things to consider are:

- How difficult is it to get preferred tee times?
- Are club events important to you and/or your family
- Is the club equity owned? If so, are there any planned future assesments?
- Does the club/course have a 5 year plan to enhance the course, clubhouse, etc..
- What is the membership like? Are there people you enjoy playing with?
- Is there a group a members who have a standing weekly game? Is it difficult getting into this group?
- Are there any reciprocal course that you can play?

Questions I asked myself:

1. Is this the type of course I could play every day?
2. If you have a family, does this course offer off-course amenities for the family (pool, tennis, events, etc...)? That may help to sell the idea if your significant other is on the fence.
3. Has the course ever had assessments? Those can get pricey.
4. Does the course offer leagues in the evening? This may prohibit getting in a quick 9 after work.
5. Does the current members fit your style?
6. Is the course walk-able or will I have to take a cart every time?
7. Do they offer suitable practice facilities?

Bermuda run is awesome. Having access to two courses is a huge advantage. the east course is one of the best in the area and the greens are some of my favorite I've played on. They hold multiple tournaments there every year including the qualifier for the upcoming Wyndham Championship. When that course is hosting a tournament or busy you can play the West course which is shorter but still a great substitute. Pretty nice practice facility as well! If it was my choice id go BRCC all day.

Be sure to look at the required minimum spending for food. The other thing that I have seen a number of people not think about are assessments. If the club is member owned, the membership may vote to do a few big $$$ projects. These are generally paid for by assessing the membership either a one time fee or on a monthly basis. This can add up very quickly.

I never saw myself belonging to a private club, but after working my current job for a year, I asked about membership in lieu of a raise. The owners family all play and belong. The GM and I are the only non-family members here and received subsidies to the membership.

Now that I've been a member 15 years, as a result of the trade war with China the company pulled their subsidy. My wife and I decided to keep the membership, despite increase in the hit on our budget. We agreed to keep it this year and reevaluate before next season. We've made up our minds and will be staying.

We enjoy being able to go after work to play nine, practice, etc.. There's an ability to get on at weird times when all the public courses in the area are full due to leagues and such. We also enjoy the social aspect and have made a lot of friends. An added plus is they spoil the heck out of us. I store my clubs at the club. Driving in the bag boys see me go by and when I come up my clubs are sitting there waiting for me.

I spend the winter months in NC not far from winston salem and have played Bermuda Run as a guest. It is an excellent Golf Course and community. I have never been to Maple Chase but have been told it is very nice also.

I was a member at a private for a couple of years. It was a great atmosphere and they took really good care of the course. I made a ton of friends, and my family really enjoyed all of the events and amenities. If you can swing it, Id do it.

This is my 46th year playing golf and I was able to join a private club for the first time 7 years ago. I cannot stress enough that it has to be reasonably close enough to home and work. Play 18, Play 9, just play a few holes and hit some balls... if its close enough you will drive over and do those things.

Is it worth it - probably not if you divide the # of rounds into the cost. It is a luxury - but at 58, it is a luxury that I completely enjoy at this stage of my life now that my kids are grown and college is finished.

I agree to look at all the obvious details, dues, assessments, minimums. I think the most important thing is finding a game when you want. For me personally, I lie to be a part of a regular group. I also want to play when I want to play. I believe the golf shop should help you fit in to the clubs various groups. If you can’t play when you want and with who you want, it’s not going to be worthwhile.

I heard some guys talking about Maple Chase yesterday, and they said they had 600 members. I was surprised it was so many, and wouldn't be surprised if they were wrong, but what is a reasonable number of members for an 18 hole club? I was thinking 300 would be a more reasonable number.

My club caps full play memberships at 300 and generally reserving a tee time is not an issue. Since COVID struck, and with kids out of school and college aged kids home, our tee sheet fills up within 5 minutes of it being open - an issue our BOG (myself included) continues to struggle with.

Semi-private here as well and I would every bit without hesitation join the private club!
I was at a private Country Club for most my life and without doubt go for it. The course will be less crowded, you will get to know everyone there much better because it's a more intimate setting.
no having cut range balls or to pay for buckets of range balls just grab a cart and go with a quick wave at the pro shop. course is much better manicured etcetera.. although my semi-private is in quite good shape...my summary, if you can afford it without a doubt don't hesitate...

I agree with the 19hole.

There are some benefits to being a member of a private club as others have stated on this post.