A home on the course, and a club that comes with it.
South Florida has more golf than almost anywhere in the world, and many of the best homes sit inside private club communities. Buying one means buying into a club as well as a house. Here is how that works, and what to check first.
The main golf areas, county by county
Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens
The heart of Florida golf, home to many tour players. Gated communities such as Admirals Cove, The Bear's Club, The Dye Preserve, Old Palm, BallenIsles and PGA National, from waterfront estates to golf villas.
Championship courses · boatingWellington
Best known for polo and show jumping, with golf communities such as Palm Beach Polo alongside equestrian estates. Space, privacy and a strong winter season.
Golf and equestrianBoca Raton and Delray Beach
The largest concentration of private club communities on the coast, including Boca West, St Andrews and Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, where homes back onto both fairways and deep-water canals.
Full-service clubsParkland and Weston
Family-oriented communities with highly rated schools, such as Parkland Golf & Country Club and Weston Hills. Newer homes and larger lots than on the coast.
Families · newer homesMiami Beach and the islands
A small number of very private clubs, such as La Gorce and Indian Creek, where membership is by invitation and the homes around them are among the most exclusive in the country.
By invitationCoral Gables and Pinecrest
Historic club golf at Riviera and the Biltmore, and waterfront estates near Deering Bay. Leafy, established neighbourhoods close to the city.
Established · near the cityFive things that work differently from an ordinary purchase
- Mandatory or optional membership
- In some communities every homeowner must join the club (often called "bundled" golf). In others, membership is optional or separate. This changes the real cost of the home and who your future buyers can be.
- Equity or non-equity
- In an equity club, members own the club and share in its decisions and its costs. In a non-equity club, a developer or operator owns it and members pay to use it. Each has its own rules on refunds, voting and future assessments.
- Initiation fee and annual dues
- Expect an initiation fee or capital contribution when you join, then annual dues, a food and beverage minimum, and sometimes cart and locker fees. Ask whether any part of the initiation fee is refunded when you sell.
- Approval and waiting lists
- Many private clubs approve new members through a committee, and the best-known have waiting lists. The approval timeline should be built into your purchase contract.
- The future of the course
- Check who owns the course and what the zoning allows. A course owned by its members or protected by deed restrictions is far less likely to be redeveloped than one owned by a third party.
Introductions to the clubs, not just the homes
We have relationships with leading golf club operators, with access to luxury golf clubs in more than 15 states, including Florida clubs where new homes are being built on the course. We can arrange a discreet visit, a round with a member, and a meeting with the membership office before you commit to a home.
When you're ready to buy, we introduce a licensed Florida real estate brokerage with experience in club communities, and stay alongside you through membership approval and closing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mandatory golf membership?
What is the difference between an equity and a non-equity club?
Can international buyers join private golf clubs in Florida?
Where are the best golf communities in South Florida?
Planning a move of capital, property or family to South Florida?
Tell us where you live and what you're planning. We'll reply with clear next steps and, where you need one, an introduction to the right licensed professional. Usually within one business day.