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The 10 Most Expensive Country Club Initiation Fees in America (2027)

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
The Country Club
Direct answer

The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, has the most expensive reported initiation fee in America (upward of $500,000), with Liberty National ($500,000) at #2 and Trump National Bedminster ($125,000 to $350,000) at #3. All figures are reported; clubs do not publish fees.

At a glance

#PickInitiation feeBest for
1The Country ClubUpward of $500,000 (reported)Golf history and Boston society
2Liberty National Golf Club$500,000 (reported)Golf with a Manhattan skyline view
3Trump National Golf Club Bedminster$125,000 to $350,000 (reported)A New Jersey estate club
4Fisher Island Club$250,000 (reported)An island club off Miami
5Cypress Point Club$250,000 (reported)The most famous coastal course
6Winged Foot Golf ClubAround $200,000 (reported)U.S. Open-tough golf near New York
7Congressional Country Club$180,000 (reported)Washington’s power club
8Medinah Country Club$152,000 (reported)Three courses near Chicago
9Baltusrol Golf Club$150,000 (reported)Two championship courses near New York
10Merion Golf Club$70,000 (reported)Historic golf near Philadelphia

Pick by what you want

Most expensive
The Country Club
Best view
Liberty National Golf Club
Best island club
Fisher Island Club
Most famous course
Cypress Point Club
Lowest fee on the list
Merion Golf Club

The ranking

1

The Country Club

The Country Club
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictAmerica’s oldest country club.
Initiation fee: Upward of $500,000 (reported)Location: Brookline, MassachusettsHistory: The oldest golf-oriented country club in the US and a charter club of the USGA

The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, is the oldest golf-oriented country club in the US and a charter club of the USGA; its initiation fee is reported at upward of $500,000.

Go ifGolf history and Boston society
Skip ifYou want a new, flashy club
Why #1 over #2: Its reported fee runs upward of $500,000, against Liberty National’s $500,000.
2

Liberty National Golf Club

Liberty National Golf Club
Photo: 11SR11 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe skyline club.
Initiation fee: $500,000 (reported)Location: Jersey City, New Jersey, next to Liberty State Park on Upper New York BayAnnual dues: Thousands a year (reported)

Liberty National sits in Jersey City next to Liberty State Park on Upper New York Bay, with a reported $500,000 initiation fee.

Go ifGolf with a Manhattan skyline view
Skip ifYou want a quiet country setting
Why #2 over #3: Its $500,000 reported fee tops Trump Bedminster’s $125,000 to $350,000.
3

Trump National Golf Club Bedminster

Trump National Golf Club Bedminster
Photo: Ekem / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Trump Organization’s flagship club.
Initiation fee: $125,000 to $350,000 (reported)Location: Bedminster, New Jersey, about 40 miles west of New York CityOwner: The Trump Organization

Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, about 40 miles west of New York City, is owned by the Trump Organization; its fee is reported at $125,000 to $350,000.

Go ifA New Jersey estate club
Skip ifYou want a member-owned club
Why #3 over #4: The top of its range ($350,000) is above Fisher Island’s $250,000.
4

Fisher Island Club

Fisher Island Club
Photo: Fisher Island's Club / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictMiami’s private island.
Initiation fee: $250,000 (reported)Annual dues: Up to $25,000 (reported)Location: Fisher Island, Miami-Dade County, Florida (2020 population: 561)

Fisher Island Club’s initiation fee is reported at $250,000, with dues up to $25,000 a year, on an island in Miami-Dade County.

Go ifAn island club off Miami
Skip ifYou want a classic golf club
Why #4 over #5: It matches Cypress Point’s $250,000 and adds reported dues up to $25,000.
5

Cypress Point Club

Cypress Point Club
Photo: schnaars from San Jose, CA / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Pacific-coast legend.
Initiation fee: $250,000 (reported)Location: Pebble Beach, CaliforniaCourse: One 18-hole course with dramatic holes along the Pacific

Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach has one 18-hole course with dramatic holes along the Pacific; its fee is reported at $250,000.

Go ifThe most famous coastal course
Skip ifYou want a club with more than one course
Why #5 over #6: Its $250,000 reported fee tops Winged Foot’s around $200,000.
6

Winged Foot Golf Club

Winged Foot Golf Club
Photo: / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe toughest test near Manhattan.
Initiation fee: Around $200,000 (reported)Annual dues: $15,000 (reported)Founded: 1921, largely by New York Athletic Club membersLocation: Mamaroneck, New York

Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York, founded in 1921, has a reported fee of around $200,000 and $15,000 in annual dues.

Go ifU.S. Open-tough golf near New York
Skip ifYou want an easy course
Why #6 over #7: Its around $200,000 fee tops Congressional’s $180,000.
7

Congressional Country Club

Congressional Country Club
Photo: Carl Lindberg / CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictWashington’s championship club.
Initiation fee: $180,000 (reported)Annual dues: $15,000 (reported)Opened: 1924Location: Bethesda, Maryland

Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, opened in 1924; its fee is reported at $180,000 with $15,000 dues.

Go ifWashington’s power club
Skip ifYou do not live near DC
Why #7 over #8: Its $180,000 fee tops Medinah’s $152,000.
8

Medinah Country Club

Medinah Country Club
Photo: Dan Perry / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictChicago’s grand club.
Initiation fee: $152,000 (reported)Location: Medinah, Illinois, northwest of ChicagoSize: More than 1,100 members, 640 acres and three golf courses

Medinah Country Club, northwest of Chicago, has more than 1,100 members, 640 acres and three golf courses; its fee is reported at $152,000.

Go ifThree courses near Chicago
Skip ifYou want a small, quiet club
Why #8 over #9: Its $152,000 fee tops Baltusrol’s $150,000.
9

Baltusrol Golf Club

Baltusrol Golf Club
Photo: / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe 36-hole classic.
Initiation fee: $150,000 (reported)Annual dues: Around $18,500 (reported)Founded: 1895, by Louis KellerCourses: 36 holes in Springfield, New Jersey

Baltusrol, founded in 1895 by Louis Keller, has 36 holes in Springfield, New Jersey; its fee is reported at $150,000 with around $18,500 in dues.

Go ifTwo championship courses near New York
Skip ifYou want one short course
Why #9 over #10: Its $150,000 fee tops Merion’s $70,000.
10

Merion Golf Club

Merion Golf Club
Photo: Tegcontrib / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Main Line classic.
Initiation fee: $70,000 (reported)Location: Haverford Township, on Philadelphia’s Main LineCourses: East Course and West Course

Merion Golf Club on Philadelphia’s Main Line has an East Course and a West Course; its fee is reported at $70,000.

Go ifHistoric golf near Philadelphia
Skip ifYou want the biggest fee on this list

How we ranked these

We ranked each club by its reported initiation fee, highest first, using FinanceBuzz’s list updated October 1, 2026; clubs do not publish their fees. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the most expensive country club to join in America?

The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, reported at upward of $500,000, and Liberty National in Jersey City at a reported $500,000.

How much does it cost to join Trump National Bedminster?

The initiation fee is reported at $125,000 to $350,000, plus annual dues.

What are the annual dues at an elite country club?

Reported dues run from $15,000 a year at Winged Foot and Congressional to around $18,500 at Baltusrol and up to $25,000 at Fisher Island.

Do these clubs publish their fees?

No. Every fee on this list is a reported figure; membership at clubs like Cypress Point is by invitation.

Reported initiation fee (USD, top of the reported range) at a glance

Merion Golf Club$70,000
Baltusrol Golf Club$150,000
Medinah Country Club$152,000
Congressional Country Club$180,000
Winged Foot Golf Club$200,000
Fisher Island Club$250,000
Cypress Point Club$250,000
Trump National Golf Club Bedminster$350,000
The Country Club$500,000
Liberty National Golf Club$500,000
Reported initiation fee (USD, top of the reported range), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.