In this article, we will look into the 30 most expensive golf club memberships in the world. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Most Expensive Golf Club Memberships in the World.
The Golf Industry
According to the National Golf Foundation 2022 report, golf is a thriving recreational activity in the US. Golf participation in the US increased by 12% in 2022, reaching 119 million people, as compared to 2021. In 2022, 41.1 million people played golf on and off-course. The number of golf players experienced a surge in 2022, with 3.3 million people playing golf for the first time, surpassing the previous highest record set in 2000 of 2.4 million. The growth can be attributed to the rising diversity of golf players and the increasing traction of off-course golf. Women’s participation in golf has increased, with 25% of women playing golf in 2022. There are around 16,000 golf courses in the 14,000 US golf facilities, of which 75% are open to the public. 6.2 million on-course participants of the sport are young adults aged 18 to 34.
The rising number of golfers, and inclusive participation in the recreational activity is driving increased sales of golf equipment. According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the golf equipment market is expected to reach $13.32 billion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.78% and reach $17.64 billion by 2028. The growth can be attributed to the rising number of young golf players leading to an increase in equipment sales, growing disposable income, and increase in the number of professional golfers in the past few years.
The report by Mordor Intelligence cites a survey by NGF in 2021 which states that golf is played in 206 countries out of 251, with 38,000 golf courses in more than 82% of countries globally. Regionally, North America has the highest market share in the global golf industry. European countries are also partaking in the market growth by investing in infrastructural development and hosting sports events. Asia Pacific is expected to experience the highest growth with countries such as China, Japan, India, and Australia contributing to market growth. Japan experienced a rise in its golfing population from 8.93 million in 2018 to approximately 10.3 million in 2021, as reported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). The regional growth is fueled by the surge in sports participation, increased media exposure, and growing investments in the golf industry, leading to its popularity among the youth. The growing popularity of golf is driving sales of golf equipment.
Major Players in the Industry
The major players dominating the golf industry include Mizuno Corporation (OTC:MIZUF), Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (NYSE: MODG), and Adidas AG (OTC:ADDYY).
Mizuno Corporation (OTC:MIZUF) is one of the leading companies in the golf industry. On October 16, the company launched a new line of irons, Mizuno Pro Irons. With the incorporation of game improvement technology into their irons, Mizuno Corporation (OTC:MIZUF) has utilized advanced manufacturing techniques and design optimization for its new products. The new collection, Mizuno Pro 241/243/245 will be available in the US, Australia, and Europe from January 2024. Their presale will begin on January 8, 2024. The products will officially be launched on January 25.
Talking about the new line, Director of R&D Mizuno Corporation (OTC:MIZUF), David Llewellyn said:
“Other manufacturers have widely adopted Mizuno’s work to elevate the performance of elite player’s irons. What now sets Mizuno apart is the ability to apply precise manufacturing techniques learned at our long-standing forging plant in Hiroshima, Japan, to increasingly complex designs.”
Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (NYSE:MODG) is among the top leaders dominating the golf industry. On October 23, the company announced the launch of its 4th Tennessee venue in Memphis. The venue will be launched on Friday, October 27. It will have features including 72 outdoor, climate-controlled hitting bays, a video wall, over 200 HDTVs, and a restaurant.
According to a report by NBC, on October 6, Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (NYSE:MODG) launched its 81st venue in the United States and 91st worldwide, Topgolf Rhode Island. The venue is located in Cranston and has three stories with 102 climate-controlled hitting bays, top-notch tables in each bay, and Toptracer technology to track the flight path of golf balls, their distance, and other metrics. The new venue has already hired 400 employees, with more than 80 positions yet to be filled.
Adidas AG (OTC:ADDYY) is among the largest sportswear manufacturers. On October 2, the company announced the launch of its new line of golf apparel for fall, Ultimate365 Tour Range. The collection features a wide range of pieces made from the latest material innovations, like Frostguard technology that will keep the golfers warm. It further utilizes WIND.RDY and COLD.RDY technologies to protect against harsh weather. The products include padded vests, jackets, pullovers, and warm pants among others. The new product line is now available for sale.
Now that we have discussed the global golf industry and major companies in the space, let’s look at the 30 most expensive golf club memberships in the world.
30 Most Expensive Golf Club Memberships in the World
Methodology
To compile our list of the 30 most expensive golf club memberships in the world, we reviewed related articles featuring the most expensive golf courses in the world from sources including Forbes, Golf Circuit, Golflux, and Golf Industry Central. We then tabulated an initial list containing 45 entries. After that, we narrowed down our list to the 30 most expensive golf clubs by their membership initiation cost. Membership initiation fee is a one-time cost a member has to pay to get access to the club facilities and amenities. We comprehensively researched across the web and reviewed multiple publications from sources including Forbes, Golf Monthly, and Country Club Magazine among others, to obtain the membership initiation costs for the golf clubs in our list. We ranked the golf courses in ascending order based on their approximate membership initiation cost.
30 Most Expensive Golf Club Memberships in the World
30. Old Head Golf Links
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $30,000
Old Head Golf Links is a renowned golf club located in Ireland. The club is ranked among the 30 most expensive golf club memberships in the world with a membership initiation cost of $30,000.
Mizuno Corporation (OTC:MIZUF), Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (NYSE: MODG), and Adidas AG (OTC:ADDYY) are some of the major companies leading the golf market.
29. The Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $40,000
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club is an exclusive club located in Black Rock, Victoria, Australia. It is one of the oldest golf clubs in Australia with a membership initiation cost of $40,000.
28. Pinehurst No. 2
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $45,000
Ranked 28th on our list is Pinehurst No.2. It is a championship golf course located in Pinehurst, North Carolina. The golf club offers membership at an initiation cost of $45,000.
27. Merion Golf Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $70,000
Merion Golf Club is an exclusive golf club located in Haverford, Pennsylvania. The club features two courses: the east course and the west course. It is ranked 27th on our list of the most expensive golf club memberships in the world with a membership initiation cost of $70,000.
26. Trump National Doral Miami
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $75,000
Trump National Doral Miami is located in Doral, Florida. The private club is one of the most popular and prestigious clubs in the world with a membership initiation cost of $75,000. It is ranked 26th on our list.
25. TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $75,000
The TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course is located in the Southern United States, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course is a par-72 course. It is ranked 25th on our list and offers membership at an initiation cost of $75,000.
24. Bear’s Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $90,000
Bear’s Club is a private club located in Jupiter, Florida. The 2019 Open Championship was held in the Bear’s Club. It is ranked 24th on our list of the most expensive golf club memberships in the world with a membership initiation cost of $90,000
23. Boca West Country Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $90,000
Boca West Country Club is located in Boca Raton, Florida. It is an exclusive residential club with a high membership initiation fee of $90,000. It is ranked 23rd on our list.
22. Sunningdale Golf Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $98,000
Sunningdale Golf Club is located in Berkshire, England. The prestigious club is a members-only exclusive club and has two golf courses. It ranks among the most expensive golf courses with a high membership cost of approximately $98,000.
21. Seminole Golf Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $100,000
Seminole Club is a private beach club located in Juno Beach, Florida. The exclusive club offers membership to only a limited number of people. It has a high membership initiation fee of $100,000. It is ranked 21st on our list.
20. Golf de Morfontaine
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $100,000
Golf De Morfontaine is a prestigious golf club in Morfontaine, France. It is one of the most popular golf clubs in Europe. It offers membership at a high cost of $100,000 and is ranked 20th on our list.
19. Shanqin Bay Golf Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $100,000
The Shanqin Bay Golf Club is located in Qingdao, China. The private golf course costs $100,000 for membership. The Shanqin Bay Golf Club is ranked 19th on our list of the most expensive golf club memberships in the world.
18. Les Bordes
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $106,000
Les Bordes is a prestigious golf club located in Sologne, France. The private member-only club offers membership at a high cost of approximately 106,000. It is ranked 18th on our list.
17. Whisper Rock Golf Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $130,000
Whisper Rock Golf Club is a premium golf club located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The private club offers a variety of amenities at a membership cost of $130,000. It is ranked 17th on our list.
16. Winged Foot Golf Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $150,000
Winged Foot Golf Club is a prestigious golf club founded in 1892 and located in Mamaroneck, New York. The club is open to members only. It has a membership cost of $150,000 and is ranked 16th on our list.
15. Kiawah Island Ocean Course
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $150,000
Kiawah Island Ocean Course is a public golf course located in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The golf course features a variety of amenities and is ranked among the most expensive golf courses with a high membership cost of $150,000.
14. Ocean Reef Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $150,000
Ocean Reef Club is located in Key Largo, Florida. The exclusive club was founded in 1957. Ocean Reef Club offers membership at a staggering cost of $150,000. It is ranked 14th on our list.
13. Baltusrol Golf Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $150,000
Baltusrol Golf Club is one of the oldest and prestigious clubs in the United States located in Springfield, New Jersey. The Baltusrol Golf Club is ranked 13th on our list with a high membership cost of $150,000.
12. Congressional Country Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $180,000
Congressional Country Club is an exclusive club located in Bethesda, Maryland. The club has two golf courses and is ranked 12th on our list. The Congressional Country Club offers membership at a whopping $180,000.
11. Cherokee Town and Country Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $200,000
Cherokee Town and Country Club is an exclusive member-only club in Atlanta, Georgia. The initiation cost to join the club is $200,000. The club is ranked 11th among the most expensive golf club memberships in the world.
10. Oakmont Country Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $200,000
Oakmont Country Club is a private club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. The club has the privilege of hosting the US Open in 2016. It is ranked 10th on our list with a membership initiation fee of $200,000.
9. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $200,000
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club is an exclusive club located in St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland. The prestigious club is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world with a high membership cost of $200,000. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club is ranked 9th on our list.
8. Cypress Point Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $250,000
Cypress Point Club is a private member-only club in Pebble Beach, California. It features an 18-hole championship golf course and is popular for its layout. The club ranks 8th on our list with a high membership cost of $250,000
7. Pebble Beach Golf Links
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $250,000
Pebble Beach Golf Links is a public golf course in Pebble Beach, California. The golf course ranks 7th on our list of the most expensive golf club memberships in the world with a high membership fee of $250,000.
6. The Los Angeles Country Club
Approximate Membership Initiation Fee: $250,000
The Los Angeles Country Club is one of the most popular golf and country clubs in the world, located in Los Angeles, California. It has the privilege of hosting the 2023 US Open on its north course. The Los Angeles Country Club ranks 6th on our list with a high membership initiation cost of $250,000.
The golf industry is a growing market. Investors looking for exposure to the market can research prominent stocks including Mizuno Corporation (OTC:MIZUF), Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (NYSE: MODG), and Adidas AG (OTC:ADDYY).
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Disclosure: None. 30 Most Expensive Golf Club Memberships in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.