There are private golf courses, and then there are the really private golf courses. These are the golf courses for which membership for the vast majority of people is virtually impossible.
With these golf courses, the initiation fees can cost as much as a large house, and then the membership is often by invitation only. Only the rich and the famous can hope to get in, and sometimes even that isn’t enough.
But we can dream, can’t we? And in our dreams, we can still hope to become members of these truly exclusive clubs:
Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia
No list of exclusive US golf clubs will be complete without Augusta National, so we just listed it here first. It’s widely considered as the most exclusive golf club in the entire world, and the people there are so private that they don’t publicize their details.
It’s pretty much well-known that membership is invitation-only, and there are only 300 or so members. The estimates for the initiation fee go up to half a million dollars.
And they don’t even like people publicly stating their desire to join—Bill Gates did that and then consequently had trouble getting in. But he got in eventually, because he’s Bill Gates. We’re not.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York
This golf club claims to be the oldest in the country, with its founding way back in 1891. Nothing else is really known about it, regarding its initiation fees, club dues, and members.
It is a fact, however, that membership is invitation-only, and that it features the 4th-best golf course in the country. It has hosted the US Open 5 times, most recently in 2018.
You might be able to play as a guest here, but you’ll have to have a caddie. It’s mandatory to walk the entire course.
Cypress Point in Pebble Beach, California
This is another legendary golf club, and its membership is limited to around 250 members.
According to the grapevine, they tally the yearly running costs, and then just divide that number with the number of members to get the membership yearly dues. That’s a high price to pay if you don’t play golf often!
Nanea Golf Club in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
This golf club is relatively new, as it started only in 2003. But it didn’t take long for it to become the most exclusive club in the state. Nobody knows the initiation fees and yearly membership dues, but everyone knows that the membership is invitation-only.
Los Angeles Country Club in LA, California
The golf course is set to host the US Open in 2003, so you know it’s a great course.
This is also an exclusive club. Remember that famous line by Groucho Marx: “Why would I want to belong to a club that would have me as a member?” He was talking about this club.
And even Hugh Hefner wasn’t able to get in here, despite the fact that the Playboy Mansion is located right by the course!