      
   4.9146 reviews

Golf Club Membership Fees: Are You Entitled to A Refund?

Request a Case Review

Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C.

10b9db026d89119e951a851045ac17eee7784f79

Written/Reviewed By:

Barry S. Kantrowitz, Esq.

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Read Time: 4 mins

America is home to 15,372 golf courses – 45 percent of the world’s total. From Pete Dye and Old Tom Morris to Tom Doak and Jack Nicklaus, there is no shortage of professionally-designed courses, complemented by posh clubs packed with amenities.

There is no limitation to what these clubs can charge prospective members, but it is customary to require “initiation” golf membership fees to join. This is especially true for investor owned golf courese, with the initiation fees providing an immediate return on investment and profit to the bottome line. In recent times, however, investors have forgotten about their obligations to the former members who fueled their profits in past years and disregarded their rights when it came time to return their membership deposits or initiation fees upon resignation

Do You Have a Case?

Let our experienced class action attorneys determine whether you have a case in this golf club litigation initiative.

Types of Clubs and Golf Membership Fees

Golfers can choose between:

Private Clubs

Exclusive use rights are granted to members – a sign of prestige and the golf club’s exclusivity. One-time fees generally range from $5,000 to $100,000, with payments broken down into payment upon admission or over the course the first year. Members are also expected to pay $3,000 to $10,000 per year in annual dues based on their membership level for use of the facilities. Tiers include individual, family, social, out-of-state, and corporate. Food and beverage minimums may be required at $50 – $150 per month to maintain high levels of service all year long. Additional rental fees may be necessary for locker and storage or golf cart use.

Semi-Private Clubs

Semi-private memberships allow access to the golf course and facilities to the public on a daily fee basis. Members enjoy priority access to tee times, exclusive access to league play and tournaments, and other perks. One-time initiation fees range from $1,000 to $25,000 due in a lump annual charge. On top of that, annual dues range from $1,000 to $5,000 per year, depending on the tier of membership, for unlimited use of the golf course. Cart and practice range use may cost extra, but there are no food and drink minimums. Locker rentals and club storage, if available, are provided for an extra charge.

Most of the money paid into a club is the price members pay to play. However, most contracts explicitly state that the initiation golf membership fees are fully refundable. The terms may vary based on the governing documents.

Membership Fee Refund Terms

Clubs terms may stipulate:

A full or partial refund upon resignation at 30 years from the date of membership.
A refund as long as they maintain a certain number of active members.
A refund after a certain number of new members join.

Pending meeting these conditions, members are placed on “waiting lists” before the club pays the refund.

Are You Waiting for a Golf Club Membership Refund?

Often, former members find themselves on the waiting list indefinitely, with inquiries to the club being put off or ignored. Clubs may change their policies to lengthen the amount of time it takes for resigning members to receive their refunds, or they may simply not follow what they agree to in the controlling agreements. Members who are tired of the runaround can always contact Gary Graifman of KGG or Robert Dowd of Dowd Law, who have teamed up to hold golf clubs accountable for abiding by their contract terms and applicable consumer fraud statutes. You may be eligible to vindicate your rights by joining a golf club membership fee class action lawsuit. Potential collective or class action status may be warranted depending on the circumstances.

Why Trust Us?

150+ Reviews

50+ Years of Service

Full-Service Law Firm

Client Reviews

    
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   LWelsh 
 2 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Clever and efficient.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Kenny Perlow 
 23 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. KGG Law, and Barry Kantrowitz in particular, set the bar high for what a thorough, practical, strategic, compassionate and smart lawyer can be. Everything about Barry's advice and representation was exemplary and the stress mitigation that resulted was invaluable. On top of that, the ultimate result Barry achieved was beyond what was reasonable to expect and we are forever grateful. Often, people say that you hire a lawyer to prevent a problem. Sometimes, unfortunately, you need an attorney to solve a problem and I could not recommend Barry and his firm any more highly in that regard.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Aliza Ali 
 87 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My dad had a great experience with this law firm. From the very beginning, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to answer our questions. They kept us informed throughout the entire process and made what could have been a very stressful situation much easier to handle. We truly appreciated their dedication, honesty, and hard work. Thanks to their support, my dad felt confident every step of the way. We are very grateful for everything they did and would highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for reliable legal representation.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Jana Montero 
 90 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a wonderful experience working with Sam Smith. He was very responsive, thorough, and easy to work with from start to finish. He walked me through everything clearly and made what started as a very stressful situation for me into something completely manageable. I would not hesitate to recommend him and the firm!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Mike Sakmann 
 96 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I sought legal advice regarding an employment matter and had an excellent experience working with Sam Smith, Esq. at KGG Law. Sam was thorough, attentive, and took the time to listen carefully to my concerns before providing clear, thoughtful guidance. I appreciated the professionalism and care shown throughout the process, and I would confidently recommend KGG Law to anyone in need of legal assistance.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Liz Hecker 
 102 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can't say enough about this firm. They manage to comfort you during the whole legal process while staying professional and doing what is right. I would recommend them to anyone and also hire them again if I need legal help.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Brandy Miller 
 125 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate is the best. She helped me very quickly, and was very attentive with all of my needs. So thankful for her
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Mike Greenspan 
 138 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate Carballo is a dedicated, passionate, and creative attorney whom I had the pleasure to lecture with at a state trial lawyer's conference. Kate's lecture demonstrated how she uses her innovative and "out-of-the-box thinking" to achieve outstanding results for her injured clients. That Kate is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a civil trial attorney is a testament to her skills, experience and commitment to excellence.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Jonathan Sampson 
 145 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Was referred to KGG law by a friend and could not have asked for better legal representation. They walked me through every step of the process after my accident and began every call with “ how are you feeling” which was just one example of how much they care about their clients. They handled my case very efficiently, professionally and courteously. My attorney Kate Carballo was a rock star! So clearly experienced, she consistently made me feel at ease with the process. Highly recommend
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Vinnie Kung 
 148 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience with the team at KGG Law. While it was a traumatic time for our family, they made it very easy for us and explained all of our options. They even performed due diligence to make sure that after our settlement, there would be no further issues which I think is even more important than the settlement itself. Thank you!

see all reviews

Golf Club Membership Fees: Are You Entitled to A Refund?

Do You Have a Case?

Why Trust Us?

Rockland County, New York

Bergen County, New Jersey