03ki11erAG said:
My rule of thumb is that you have to play at least 5 times a month to make it worth it(make the math work). I'm a range rat so I get to hit balls 4-5 times a week and play 3-4 times a month. It works out but there are definitely months where it does not.
In the best of scenarios, that last sentence is the rub in my experience.
If you play a decent caliber course (in line with a decent country club), you are probably looking at $85 per weekend round. Say you play once a week during the week...call that $55/week. Then range balls 1 time per week at $10.
On average, that's probably $600/month for 8 rounds of golf and 8 practice range days.
So, for a membership (especially $300 dues) that's a good deal. Problem is, though, $300 membership place isn't at the above rates for daily play. Then you throw in the weeks and months where weather/vacations/schedules eliminate that. Again, in my opinion, it is virtually impossible to make the math work to justify the cost as a money saving venture.
Country club membership is a luxury experience, not a coupon. Only point I'm making in my comments is if you are evaluating joining a country club to save money, you are most likely to be disappointed over time from a cost analysis. Value comes from the experience, not the hard dollar cost analysis.