I didn't mean a lack of amenities, just not ones that you couldn't get elsewhere. I suppose it is also dependent on how much you make use of the facilities. I would tire pretty quickly of playing the same course.

I do see what you were saying about it being relative and the expense compared to vacations.

You wouldn't get tired of it if it was a good course. I belong to one of, if not the best, clubs in Houston and it is great. We spend a ton I money on it but between working out, swimming, golf, tennis, dining, and drinking; someone from our household is there every day of the week.

I also use it for business entertaining and it's a fantastic resource. It's one thing to invite someone to play Wildcat or Blackhorse, but it's another to take a client somewhere they otherwise wouldn't have access to. To each his own!

Anyone have some input on The Woodlands CC?

That is probably true. Do you run the membership through your business (is that tax deductible?) or through your personal finances?

I run it through my personal finances and just get reimbursed from my company for guest rounds, lunches, drinks, etc.

Can't expense the initiation or monthly dues but that's ok. Having access is a huge asset to my business.

+1 for what garym is saying. There's no way around the fact that country clubs are expensive. But, if you use them frequently, I think they can be easily justified. Now, if you're the type to join a club and only play a couple of rounds a golf per year or rarely use the other facilities, then I'd recommend against a membership (unless you have so much $$ it just doesn't matter).

And I truthfully never really get tired of playing my course. We do have 36 holes, so that helps a bit. But I play 90% of my rounds one course anwyay. The course is always in great shape and the rounds are always under 4 hours.

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Houstonian: ~18k initiation for a junior and about 325-390/mo (single vs family)

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Oh, that's it?

It amazes me that these clubs get away with charging cart fees.

Anyone have any insight to Falcon Point in Katy?

Does anyone have info on Raveneaux? Google results on junior prices are very generous. Do clubs generally have activities/amenities for young children? Are green fees usually included in monthly fee or is this extra?

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It amazes me that these clubs get away with charging cart fees.

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Why? Carts cost them $$. You expecting a freebie? I guess they could just raise the monthly dues and include cart fees but then you piss off the people that want to walk.

How does Pine Forest compare to Brae burn??

Cart fees and alcohol are the only reason they can stay in business.

Any info on Pine Forest would be appreciated.

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How does Pine Forest compare to Brae burn??

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poorly.

Raveneaux is a dump now, which is too bad it was nice once upon a time.

No idea about The Woodlands junior membership but I believe the regular initiation is about $30k and dues around $550.

Carlton Woods offers a junior membership with as little as $20k out of pocket up front and you can amortize the difference to age 40 of full membership @ $110k. Dues are $880. They have never offered this junior program before and it will probably close this year. I believe it is being limited to 60 spots.

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The men's locker room at Riverbend is awesome! Worth joining just to hang-out in there.

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This^

Hanrahan,

Twin Creeks in Cedar Park is a downright bargain. Can join for about 5k. No food min. Get access to all the Dominion Group clubs. PM me if you have any interest in checking it out

Dr ralph, thanks but i joined at Spanish Oaks. Twin creeks is a nicely set course, I like there arent a bunch of houses lining it.

[This message has been edited by Hanrahan (edited 2/25/2013 9:33a).]

Congrats, enjoy that course Hanrahan! I played it several years ago and all I remember is it being tough. Where were you at before?

Dr. Ralph, is Twin Creeks running a special? It was up there a few years ago when I looked at it.



[This message has been edited by xaggie95 (edited 2/25/2013 12:47p).]

Thanks Xaggie, I've been at Spanish since the middle of last last year and I absolutely love it. I was at The Hills for a few years before that and the two don't begin to compare. Looks like the hills will hang onto $40k of mine for seemingly forever before I see it again, but I'm so much happier at Spanish that it was worth it.

No i have a corporate membership with discounted add ons

Spanish Oaks was awesome a few years ago, then the developer went bankrupt and it closed for a while. Can anyone that belonged pre and post-closure offer an opinion? Only place I've been to where the convenience stations are 100% gratis including the outdoor bar and grill at the turn. Still miss that beef jerkey. I imagine most or all of the free stuff is a thing of the past.

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Oh, that's it?

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$350 for a yearly membership at my local muni. That doesn't include cart rental. I know, what a rip-off.

Spanish is much the same minus the free booze this go around. Comfort stations are still free, and carts, locker, prov1s on range, bag storage, shoe cleaning, valet, etc is all included in dues. They have about one more week to finish recutting all the faces, replacing the liner and putting new sand in every bunker on the course. Its already greening up nicely. I absolutely love it out there.

Im a member at Riverbend and definitely regard it as the best golf membership in Sugarland. Much less members than Sweetwater.

I also play at Pine Forest and Raveneaux quite a bit. I like both clubs quite a bit.

Both have recently put some money into the club. But cost wise, I would say all three are pretty comparable.

Playing Houston Oaks on Sunday. A good friend of mine is a member there and I play it a couple times a year. Seems like every time I go out there something has changed dramatically (18th hole redo, clubhouse, course conditions in general...). I haven't played since they renovated the practice area and #9, so looking forward to it.

BTW, thought this was interesting. There was a thread awhile back about the initiation fees out there. Right now they are $25k, but they want it to be $100k soon....See pages 4- 5.

EDIT: holy long URL, Batman...

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:c7lzHp3crIQJ:www.houstonoaks.com/files/HoustonOaks_July2012_Final.pdf+houston+oaks+nirvana&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgEsI_qBJgeHqkFj6si5d4-7l9pp7RV8okX7u0cFv-lUefUe211U9zy4t0qL-2tnwx6bX1KE5AlF51XfmMRIOUAqpc8do9uHWSN_mcvqtYA-UeW9CC0G328FlRTUlaKC0QMeGzj&sig=AHIEtbQbStoYIIDuIekm5W3uIda4mOff0g

[This message has been edited by 1208hawktree (edited 3/1/2013 11:37p).]

TTT

anyone know current full (non JR) rates at Sugar Creek or Riverbend?

cclearman,

I think right now Sugar Creek is redoing one of the nines but Jones and Trent 9's are open.

I think the initiation is at $5k. And member charge is like $550 per month, exclude cart fee and food. No minimum on food requirement. I like it so far.

Heard back from Riverbend. Theirs are the exact same except if you do non voting it's $2k instead of $5k.

Our club had a great deal with Riverbend where we only had to pay cart fee while we were shut down for renovation. We had the deal with a number of other clubs around town, but just about every member I have spoken to noted Riverbend as being the best.

If I wasn't a member at Golfcrest and lived closer to Sugarland, I'd definitely go with Riverbend.

Spanish Oaks is so sweet. I'm a member at Lakeway, but my buddy is a member at Spanish and I play for $120 guest. Much cheaper than $50k!

I'm trying to go check out Riverbend this week.

For the search records:
I have an email into Royal Oaks. Haven't seen any legit pricing, just guesses of $50k and $750. Was thinking they may affected by oil and I could get in reasonably....

I spoke with Westwood a couple years ago and it was $25k ($15k option) and $600.

Couple years ago Braeburn was $25k and mid $500s.

Royal Oaks (non JR)
equity $32.5 cash, $40 payment plan / $775
equity exec $20k / $575 but it looks like you have to pay greens fees of $55/$75 for yourself!


JR members
$40k total paid due at 40
$5k due before 30, @ 30, and @35 (ex $5k before 30, $5k at 30, $5k at 35, $25k at 40; join at 35 and it's $15k with $25k at 40)
dues are $375/$575/$675

Believe Braeburn is at 32k for equity membership and 5k for juniors. Mid-500 is correct on dues. Junior membership goes until 35.