Exploring the Most Exclusive Golf Clubs in the World

Golf is a popular sport worldwide, with over 39 thousand golf courses spread across 209 countries, with a concentration in the United States, Japan, Canada, England, Australia, Germany, France, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, and Scotland. These countries have 78% of all golf courses. However, when it comes to exclusivity, only 136 golf clubs meet the high standards set by Platinum Club to be considered the most exclusive in the world.

To join the most exclusive private golf and country clubs globally, members must adhere to strict rules. Walking is a must, and hiring a uniformed caddie costs $120 per bag plus tip. There is a stringent dress code means no shorts or backward hats, and hats are not allowed inside the club. Cell phone use is prohibited. The tradition includes drinking on the course, and formal attire like a jacket and tie is required for dinners. Check out the top 8 worldwide clubs that achieved Platinum Club of the World Status for 2018-2023.

8 Most Expensive Golf Clubs in The World

Here are the top 8 Expensive Golf Clubs from our special ranking:

Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta, Georgia, USA)

Augusta is a well-known golf club that used to be only for men but now Augusta opens its doors for women members like Condoleezza Rice, Darla Moore, and Ginni Rometty. It has around 300 members, including Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. The club hosts the prestigious Masters tournament and was designed by Bobby Jones and Dr. Alister MacKenzie. Unlike many private clubs that are non-profits, Augusta National is a for-profit corporation and keeps its income, holdings, membership list, and ticket sales private. Read more about the most expensive sporting event tickets in the world that cost in billions.

Joining / Membership Details

To join, people pay initiation fees ranging from $250,000 to $500,000. Augusta National has been voted the #1 Golf Club in the U.S.

Pine Valley Golf Club (Clementon, New Jersey, USA)

Pine Valley Golf Club is known as one of the top golf courses in the world. Pine Valley Golf Club is a golf course located in Pine Valley, Camden County, in southern New Jersey. It has consistently been ranked as the top course in Golf Magazine’s 100 Top Courses in the U.S. and the World in 2012, 2015, 2019, 2020, and 2023. It is a private club, and if you are not a member, you can only play if invited and accompanied by a member. Currently, Pine Valley holds the number one spot in Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses. On Sundays, members of the men’s club are permitted to bring women as guests. Read more about the expensive Golf Carts in the world.

Membership Details

Membership at Pine Valley Golf Club is very exclusive and is granted by invitation only from the board of directors. In April 2021, the club voted to remove gender-restricted language from their bylaws, allowing women to play the course on any day.

The club has around 930 members worldwide, and the membership list is kept confidential. Some notable members include George H. W. Bush, Sean Connery, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Connie Mack, Bob McNair, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Dan Quayle, Brian L. Roberts, Jay Sigel, George C. Thomas Jr., and A. W. Tillinghast.

Here is the whole list of awards or rankings won by Pine Valley Golf Club, mentioned below

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (Southampton, New York, USA)

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is a really old and special golf club in Long Island, New York. It is by the Peconic Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. People think it is the oldest golf club in the U.S. (since 1891) and has the oldest clubhouse (since 1892). They were also the first to let women join. It is the only golf course that hosted the U.S. Open in three different centuries. The place is so special that it’s on the National Register of Historic Places since 2000. If you want to play there, you need to go with a member, and it is not easy to get a tee time, you might have to book months ahead. It is also ranked as the #8 Golf Club in the U.S. Read more about the world most expensive sports stadiums.

Membership Details

The cost is $350 per round, and you must hire a caddy because walking is required.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (Scotland)

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest golf clubs globally, located in Scotland. It is a members-only club in St Andrews. In 2004, a new organization called the R&A took over the club’s functions, organizing tournaments like The Open Championship. Despite this, the club still aims to help govern and develop golf through its members. The club doesn’t own the St Andrews Links courses including the Old Course which belong to the local authority and are open to the public.

Membership Policy

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club used to allow only male members but not the R&A. In 2012, Gordon Brown, the former British Prime Minister, and Louise Richardson, the Principal of the University of St Andrews, urged the club to change this and have a fair policy. Today, it has 2,400 members from all over the globe.

Merion Golf Club (Pennsylvania)

Merion Golf Club is a private golf club in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, a township on the historic Main Line that borders Philadelphia to the northwest. There are two courses at the club: the East Course and the West Course. The East Course has routinely been ranked in the top 10, #5 in 2015, by Golf Digest in their annual “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses,” and it has held five U.S. Opens, the most recent in 2013. It has an awesome two-level men’s locker room with legendary showers. It is also been voted the #3 Golf Club in the U.S.

Membership Detail

If you want to join, initiation fees start at $70,000, plus $6,000 in yearly dues. You can apply only if a current member refers you.

Notable features

Major championships

Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Black Rock, Victoria, Australia)

Royal Melbourne Golf Club is a big golf club in Australia, located in Black Rock, Victoria, which is a suburb in southeastern Melbourne. It has two courses, the West and East, and they are considered the best and sixth-best in Australia, with the West course even ranking among the top-five courses globally. The club has been around for a long time, founded 132 years ago in 1891, making it the oldest existing golf club in Australia. Unlike many city golf places, The Royal Melbourne Golf Club can host up to 15,000 spectators. It has hosted lots of national and international events, including 16 Australian Opens. Royal Melbourne hosted the Presidents Cup in 2011 and 2019, and it was also the site of the Women’s Australian Open in 2012 and 2015, which is now part of the LPGA Tour. Read more about the most expensive foot balls clubs in the world.

Membership detail

To become a member of the esteemed Augusta National Golf Club, prospective individuals must navigate a rigorous selection process. The journey begins with an invitation from an existing member, a testament to the candidate’s character and standing within the golfing community. Upon receiving this coveted invitation, hopeful members must meticulously complete an application form, providing comprehensive details about their golfing prowess and personal background.

Next, they may face an in-depth interview with a panel of club representatives, where their passion for the sport, adherence to the club’s values, and ability to contribute to the Augusta National legacy will be thoroughly assessed. Finally, the ultimate hurdle lies in securing the approval of the club’s board of directors, who will carefully weigh each candidate’s qualifications before granting membership. Only those who successfully navigate this intricate selection process will be granted the privilege of joining the ranks of Augusta National Golf Club, immersing themselves in a world of unparalleled golfing excellence and camaraderie.

Notable Features

Muirfield-The Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (Scotland)

Muirfield is a private golf club in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. It Is where The Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers calls home. Muirfield is one of the golf courses used for The Open Championship. It proudly holds the title of the oldest confirmed organized golf club globally. Until 2017, the club didn’t allow women as members but they could still play the course as guests or visitors.

Membership Details

Membership rules used to prevent women from joining the Company until 2017. However, they could still play on the course as guests or visitors. In March 2017, the club decided to allow women as members for the first time. In August 2022, Muirfield hosted the Women’s British Open for the first time.

Cypress Point Club (Pebble Beach, California, USA)

Cypress Point Club is a private golf club in Pebble Beach, California. It is at the northern end of the Central Coast and is famous for having one of the best 18-hole golf courses especially known for its stunning holes along the Pacific Ocean. The golf course was created in 1928 by designers Alister MacKenzie and Robert Hunter. It opened on August 11 with the support of Byington Ford, Roger D. Lapham, and Marion Hollins. Cypress Point Club has been recognized as the 2nd best golf course in the world by Golf Magazine in 2011 and the 5th on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses in 2011–12.

Membership Detail

Membership is by invitation only. There is a long waiting list for membership. The initiation fee is estimated to be around $500,000.