The golf membership plan called "bundled golf" has become very popular in SW Florida and is one of the options for you to consider in choosing a golf community. Here is my best definition of bundled golf: (NOTE: To see price range searches for bundled golf properties in Naples and Bonita Springs, click to my page called "Custom Golf Searches.")

The purchase of a residence is bundled with the membership to the golf club at no additional initiation fee.

The advantages of bundled golf include:

1.    Savings on the initiation fee when you buy a residence, to the amount of $35,000 to well over $150,000.

2.    Lower yearly dues paid to the club. This is because every homeowner is a member and thus there are more members paying the yearly dues, lowering the cost per member.

3.    There is no waiting list to sell your membership separately when you sell your property.

4.    Bundled golf memberships can be easily transferred to a tenant, should you want to rent your property on a seasonal basis for 2 to 4 months. This added attraction of being able to play golf at the home club makes the property easily rented. Most of the private equity clubs do not allow the golf membership to be transferred to a tenant.

The disadvantage to a bundled membership:

       More golf members will normally mean that your individual playing time may be less than in a private equity club. Many of the bundled clubs in SW Florida have 799 residences due to a zoning restriction, and in theory there are thus 799 golf families. Now, since not everyone is here at the same time, and since not all of the 799 families may really be golfers, that number of 799 is likely overstated. Some people buy into a bundled golf community just because they have friends there or just like the development. But for sure, there will be more players in a bundled community than in a private golf equity community.

In my opinion, here are the best bundled golf communities in SW Florida. You can see more on each of them under Favorite Courses and of course, more detail on my speadsheet. To receive my detailed golf info spreadsheet, send me an email request at CharlesElig@comcast.net. 

Naples Area: Cedar Hammock  Naples Lakes   Naples Heritage   Heritage Bay    Stonebridge

Bonita Springs Area:  Pelican Sound      Highland Woods

Fort Myers Area:   Colonial Country Club