South Florida Private Clubs

It’s true that dozens of families and individuals are relinquishing their memberships at private country clubs, even here in sunny South Florida, as the economy tightens budgets and forces everyone to honestly evaluate luxury expenditures.

But, for avid golfers and their families who’ve long considered making one of the area’s premier golf facilities a home away from home, the time to act is now as private clubs offer more versatile membership options at discounted rates while still promising the same service and resplendent settings long-time members have grown accustomed to.

Dana Garmany who serves as chairman and chief executive of Troon Golf, the country’s largest golf management company that manages dozens of private clubs in the U.S., recently told the New York Times that this is as good a time as any to get your foot in the door at a private golf facility. 

“There are definitely bargains out there,” he said. “It’s just like buying a car or a house right now. You just have to have the guts to pull the trigger.”

In Broward, Palm Beach and Dade Counties clubs are offering tremendous value to their members including private locker facilities, club storage, unlimited practice facility usage, tennis courts, dining privileges, workout facilities and swimming pools; all that in addition to exclusive championship-caliber golf courses.

At clubs such as Fort Lauderdale Country Club (www.fortlauderdalecc.com) and Lago Mar Country Club (www.lagomarcc.com), healthy investments are being made to enhance the experience of members by increasing the caliber of golf. Both clubs are looking to the future. Ft. Lauderdale is excited about the oldest private club in Ft. Lauderdale becoming the newest, while Lago Mar is promising that the best is yet to come and offering limited introductory memberhips and pre-renovation rates.

Overall, the quality of golf offered at the array of private clubs in the South Florida region is unmatched and the number of acclaimed golf architects backs up that statement.

Designed by the legendary Arthur Hills, TPC Eagle Trace (www.tpceagle-trace.com) is a part of the TPC network of properties and since opening in December 1983 as the first private club in the TPC network, has hosted nine PGA Tour events. TPC Eagle Trace is committed to offering its members and their guests the same unrivaled experience as the professionals.

At one time, Greg Norman was a man who was unrivalved even in the professional ranks. Parkland’s Golf and Country Club (www.theclubatparklandgcc.com) is home to an 18-hole, par-72, 7,118-yard golf course designed by Norman which is reminiscent of Australia’s great Sand-belt links such as Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath.

While Norman made his mark on the links, Robert Trent Jones Sr. stood out as a designer. In Ft. Lauderdale, you’ll find one of his outstanding architectural visions at Coral Ridge Country Club (www.coralridgecc.com), a private nonequity country club located just miles from the beach. The classically designed Trent Jones Sr. course has been open since 1955.

Robert Trent Jones Jr. is the designer of two 18-hole championship golf courses at Weston Hills Country Club (www.westonhillsgolfclub.com), The Tour Course and the Players Course, both of which are utilized for numerous amateur golf events each year.

At Grande Oaks Golf Club (www.grandeoaks.com), home to a Raymond Floyd Signature Course, members will have exclusive access to a 40-acre golf learning facility considered one of the best in South Florida. Created amidst natural oak hammocks, the Grande Oaks Golf Course is a par 71 and measures 6,680 yards from the tips.

Each club offers a myriad of ways to become a member, making it more enticing than ever to indulge in the privilege of calling a private country club home.