Lets say you only play once a week and the green fee is $25 for the round. That means your golf is costing you $1300 annually. If the membership is $2K a year, its not making much sense to join on the strength of the golf alone. If you play at least twice a week though then you would be saving money and it would be wise to join the country club even if you were only going to use the golf facilities.

Country club membership isn't just about golf though and you should check what else is on offer such as a sauna and spa, gym, pool, tennis courts etc. As a golf player you should find out if there is a members league, how many competitions a week etc. Also, if you are taking a family membership, what is the youth program like for the younger members of your family and is there much for your partner to get involved in if golf is not there thing.

For many people joining the local country club is all about status. These clubs can be important for making important business contacts etc. as the club house is usually the center of the social life. While some may be joining to perhaps get closer to potential customers for ther business others join so their teenage children can make new friends and contacts as they approach adult hood. The country club golf house is a great place for kids to learn correct etiquette.

Other benefits that might be on offer include member discounts in the pro shop(up to 20% at some clubs), preferred tee off times and discount green fees if you bring any none members to the club for a round of golf.

Some country clubs offer a monthly membership which can be a good idea if you are new to the area and want to try several golf courses before deciding on which country club you will be joining.

You can buy property that is within the borders of many country clubs. These homes are usually (but not always) aimed at active retirement couples and usually come with country club golf membership already in the price of the property. One such club is the Gaillardia Country Club in Oklahoma. The community is gated for security and the championship golf course was recently redesigned by Tom Kites. Not a bad place to retire!

These live in country club golf courses are very popular in Europe, in particular Portugal and Spain. Already tens of thousands have taken early retirement from northern european countries such as England and made a new life for themselves with a warmer climate and world class golf.