Are there fees to belong to a country club?

As a private organization, each country club is entitled to charge a fee for membership and access to exclusive member benefits. Some clubs do not require a membership or initiation fee but impose a visitor or access fee for facility use instead.

In 2008, a Golf Digest article about joining private clubs identified the average initiation fee in the United States at $520 per month. Exclusive clubs may charge much more. Other fees are often added for amenities, such as locker room use, food and beverages, and child care. In facilities without initiation fees, costs tend to reflect the quality of the amenities.