Memberships - north of Toronto [Archive] - Toronto Golf Nuts

under4hrs

Apr 14, 2005, 09:23 PM

mikejb

Apr 14, 2005, 10:23 PM

Check out Bond Head and also pick up the new score golf issue. It has some ads on high end course being built outside of the GTA.

I do not know what the iniation fee is, but Devils Paintbrush and Pulpit is also a GREAT place to play north of the city. Also look around at Tangle Creek near Barrie. I know there is a lot more put at this hour, I can only think of those clubs and ads.

pudubny

Apr 15, 2005, 07:09 AM

Gentlemen,
Devil's Pulpit/Paintbrush is in the high $40K to low $50K range. But in some people's opinion it is one of the best private clubs in the world because you get two GREAT golf courses. I know Clublink gives you more but very few of them are great courses and very little club atmosphere. Devil's, while not equity does offer you some of the intiation fee back if you ever resign your membership, which I like as well. I would probably already be a member at Devil's if it wasn't a 1 hour drive from downtown where I live.
But speaking of Clublink, you can join National Pines in Barrie for a very resonable fee and good financing terms from Clublink.
In Barrie you may also want to look at these options:
Settlers Ghost
http://www.settlersghost.com/mabout.htm
They have play packages, new course but looks as interesting as Tangle.
Tangle Creek:
http://www.tanglecreekgolf.com/Membership_Info.php
I think both of those are in your range. In Barrie I don't think you are going to have a hard time finding annual play packages under $4K.
You may also want to check out the new private course being built by Max and Elizabeth Frost who own Spring Lakes in Stouffville. I know they were bulding a new one up there and I think it is complete. Spring Lakes in Stouffville is a great deal and in your proce range so I imagine their new effort in Barrie would be the same.
Good Luck.

Pud.

mikejb

Apr 15, 2005, 08:08 AM

Pudubny,

Maybe the best way to give under4 advice is for him to actually qualifiy north of Toronto. Cause I would suggest we can find some great course's for what he is looking for inside 2 hours of Toronto. But does he want to do that? And what part of the GTA is he driving from.

Mok

Apr 15, 2005, 08:45 AM

http://www.tanglecreekgolf.com/unlimited_membership.php

Tangle Creek, unlimited play $3700 (not including taxes)

Nocturnal

Apr 15, 2005, 09:25 AM

http://www.tanglecreekgolf.com/unlimited_membership.php

Tangle Creek, unlimited play $3700 (not including taxes)
And that includes carts for every round. (riders only course this year)

under4hrs

Apr 15, 2005, 10:26 PM

Defining North of Toronto - good point - could have got recommendations in Sudbury!

I live in Richmond Hill - Tangle Creek for example is too far - Woodington is too far - Spring Lakes is "in the zone". I have been looking at the package of coupons at Silver Lakes for example (~$2500 for 35 rounds).

Clublink is very realistic for me - has anybody played the Highland Gate course since it became private? I heard really bad things at first, and then heard some positives...short, tight, but forces you to hit some quality golf shots.

I just hate initiation fees! Way out of line, but a result of supply/demand I guess. Hear dof any private clubs lowering initiation dues? Summit has $25K now for example - didn;t they used to be $40 or $50K.

Devil's is awesome - two amazing and underrated golf courses...

pudubny

Apr 16, 2005, 08:23 AM

Under 4 hours,
You could try Spring Lakes. It is private. The management has some quirks but it is a great deal. Three courses, 2 are championship length.
As I recall the deal is about 2800.00 initiation and $500.00 per year. You pay a small fee on top of that for every round. The membership is limited so access to the courses is not a problem. I think it is a pretty good deal but the owners have alot of rules so I declined but I know couple of guys who love it.
As for others in that area, Pheasant Run has an annual membership at approx $3400.00. I think that is a great deal. I think Shawneeki does as well, I am not sure of the cost.
Good luck!
Pud.

snafu

Apr 17, 2005, 02:17 PM

What about Sleepy Hollow?

under4hrs

Apr 17, 2005, 03:11 PM

Sleepy Hollow - I haven't played there, was looking online. Seems like a short course - Initiation is $5500 then $3200/year for fultime, $2200 per year for weekday. Annual dues are certainly in order - just have no idea if the course justifies any sort of initiation - certainly one of the lowest in the area.

Been doing some research, here is what i have found:
Sleepy Hollow - Weekday $ 5,500 Sleepy Hollow - Full $ 5,500 Highland Gate $ 6,500 Brampton - Short Term - 3 Yrs $ 8,000 Mandarin $ 12,500 Diamondback $ 27,500Brampton - Long Term $ 21,600 The Summit $ 25,000 Thornhill $ 26,400 Board of Trade $ 28,000
If anybody knows of a Clublink Corporate membership for sale, I might be interested...

snafu

Apr 17, 2005, 03:18 PM

Whitevale is also reasonable with it's equity memberships and it definitely is a nice track..

http://www.whitevalegolfclub.com/tryus/newmem.htm

mikejb

Apr 18, 2005, 05:35 PM

What about Lionhead for a year $4,595 for a season and no fees. Then you could think about getting a membership for 2006 season at one of the newer courses being built. Golf courses are like Condo's, when you get in at the beginning it is much cheaper than at the end.

pudubny

Apr 18, 2005, 08:52 PM

Lionhead's membership does not include carts, which are manditory and $15.00/round. That put's 50 rounds at over $5000.00.
Also your guest fee is $145.00 or $100.00. The guest fee is lower at many other private clubs, several of which are much better golf courses.
Now it must really piss members off when they see Lionhead offer tee times at $89.00 in the middle of summer when they cannot fill the place.
Now don't get me started on the Lionhead courses themselves, that's another matter.
Pud.

mikejb

Apr 18, 2005, 10:08 PM

Pud, I am with you on Lionhead, this was one of the reasons I was suggesting such an idea: www.coppinwood.com being built in Uxbridge. It is a nice Fazio course. That would give under4 time to look into other courses for next season, but not allow him to sink into iniation fees.

snafu

Apr 18, 2005, 11:16 PM

Pud, I am with you on Lionhead, this was one of the reasons I was suggesting such an idea: www.coppinwood.com (http://www.coppinwood.com/) being built in Uxbridge. It is a nice Fazio course. That would give under4 time to look into other courses for next season, but not allow him to sink into iniation fees.Oh my..

I think I may have found a new home! :D

Link much apprectiated there mikejb..

Mok

Apr 18, 2005, 11:23 PM

pudubny

Apr 19, 2005, 07:45 AM

Mok,

Yes I spoke with the membership director a few times and received the package. A couple of levels of membership including a founders club. I have it at home but it will be well over $40K and founder club members at about $60k. I will double check the package later but that is the ballpark.
I am completely unwilling to join any course without playing it first. They plan to have membership sold out before it opens. It will be interesting to see how well it does. Woodensticks has yet to sell out it memberships, Granite Club (which is a very good course) has plenty of memberships still available and some of the older clubs in the area like Sleepy Hollow are struggling. I also understand that Angus Glen is planning on building a course in Goodwood. The designer is apparently Donald Steel (Redtail). I have not heard much about that lately but they were doing all the preliminary work last year.
I am not sure Uxbridge is the golfing mecca these people think it is. That being said, Fazio is considered the most "successful" designer today. It will interesting to see if all them survive.
I hope nobody was expecting it to be around $4K a year? Fazio don't come cheap.

mikejb

Apr 19, 2005, 07:56 AM

There is a lot of reason's the Granite club has not sold out it membership's, and a lot has to do with their members. Many of them are already members @ Rosedale, Toronto, Mississauga, Lake Joe Club etc.

I agree buying into a club before you play it is tough, but if you can find an equity course than buying in early and selling after the first year very well might net you some profit, or the very least break even.

Hopefully all of our ideas will give Under4 some light on the situation.

pudubny

Apr 19, 2005, 08:25 AM

Mikejb,
Equity clubs usually have a transfer fee which is a percentage of the membership fee, say 10-15%. I doubt even Coppinwood will see a rise of more than 15% in the membership fee in one year. This reduces the chances of speculation, which member clubs want to avoid. Every club wants to see demand for it's equity memberships rise, but they want to avoid speculators.
My hope is that an equity membership would give me some return after 10 years if I decide to resign. By return, I mean on the initiation fee only. I realize their is no return on the annuals and club fees.
As for your point on Granite, I am not sure I understand why Granite would have a hard time selling out memberships because some of their members are members elsewhere as well. Mississauga, Rosedale and Toronto all have waiting lists. Lake Joseph is an excellent club as well? I have been to Granite a few times and I enjoyed the experience. Please explain.
Thanks!

mikejb

Apr 19, 2005, 08:33 AM

As for your point on Granite, I am not sure I understand why Granite would have a hard time selling out memberships because some of their members are members elsewhere as well. Mississauga, Rosedale and Toronto all have waiting lists. Lake Joseph is an excellent club as well? I have been to Granite a few times and I enjoyed the experience. Please explain.
The people that the Granite Club wanted to get as members were their very own. That membership body are already members of the above mentioned clubs. They do not need another golf course membership, that is all I am saying. I know a couple people who joined who are also members at Rosedale, and I think they only use it for the occasional corporate/client day.

As for the equity I completely agree, if you can recover your costs after a year or two because you know it was not the place for you, you are free and clear, that is all I was suggesting. Unless the club has an equity policy like Mad River where you are not allowed to sell your membership until the roster is full. But I do not see that happen to many course's in and around the GTA.

wayland

May 11, 2005, 09:17 AM

If you are actually interested in Devil's Pulpit, I have a friend who has a membership for sale. The Pulpit is special in that they have a limited # of memberships, which means you won't get flooded with new members causing difficulty in booking tee times.

Honestly, two of the best courses I've ever played. As long as you don't mind the drive.

mikejb

May 11, 2005, 09:27 AM

wayland

May 11, 2005, 09:29 AM

Two of the Greatest! Location is not that bad once you have gone once or twice. How many arms is the membership up for?
I'll ask and get back to you. Friend has moved to NYC.

wayland

May 11, 2005, 10:12 AM

If you were to buy a membership from Pulpit, it would cost you $55k equity, plus $5500/yr and $125 min. monthly expenditures.

My friend is selling his for 50k and that includes this year's (2005) $5500 already paid.

No xfer fees required. This is an 'equity' membership which means you can transfer it with approval of the Board.

http://www.devilspulpit.com/html/memberinfo00.html

countclub

May 11, 2005, 01:38 PM

Looking for any advice or suggestions on courses to join north of Toronto - public or private. I am a single digit, and looking for a quality course with a great men's section.

$50K initiation fee courses are not what I am looking for...I don't mind the $4K per year dues, but refuse to pay money like that for a 7 month membership...hey under4hrs ..you might want to look at SILVER LAKES ,,just north of newmarket dynamite track ,,,narrow faiways,,,very good greens nice scenery,,,and poses a good challenge ,,i think it plays 6900 from the tips,,oh ya it has an aqua driving range!!!!!!:) :)

golferboy

May 11, 2005, 02:15 PM

Just make sure they include the bug repellent with the membership:) hey under4hrs ..you might want to look at SILVER LAKES ,,just north of newmarket dynamite track ,,,narrow faiways,,,very good greens nice scenery,,,and poses a good challenge ,,i think it plays 6900 from the tips,,oh ya it has an aqua driving range!!!!!!:) :)

golferboy

May 11, 2005, 02:16 PM

Absolutely two of the best courses I have played. Plus the clubhouses dont emit that stuffy atmosphere....its more like walking into a pub for a pint with friends.

If you are actually interested in Devil's Pulpit, I have a friend who has a membership for sale. The Pulpit is special in that they have a limited # of memberships, which means you won't get flooded with new members causing difficulty in booking tee times.

Honestly, two of the best courses I've ever played. As long as you don't mind the drive.