Entrance to the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The Augusta National Golf Club is a private country club and home to the annual Masters PGA tournament
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Wealthy men in America are discovering that having a lot of money is not enough to gain access to the world’s most outstanding private golf and country clubs. You would think the fluctuating economy would play a part in opening up the member rolls to newcomers, but it is still nearly impossible for even the rich and famous to become members. And if you are a regular player like me, don’t even consider playing at the top private clubs unless personally invited. I have been fortunate to play a few of the greatest courses and had to prove a low handicap in advance and join a lottery selection for a solo spot.
While the extravagant top-secret initiation fees at the top clubs can soar to $1 million (not including annual dues or food and beverage minimums), the chance to join a club falls into the hands of older monied senior members who call the shots on who gets to be a part of their club. Surprisingly, despite some advances, women and racial minorities are still not allowed to be members at most private member clubs worldwide. In 2012, Augusta National announced for the first time that it would admit women to its membership, but there are still only seven reported current female members.
Augusta National Golf Club Clubhouse
Augusta National
The 2025-2006 Platinum Clubs® of the America winners represent the standard of Excellence for the finest Private Golf & Country Clubs around the globe and were selected by thousands of Golf & Country Clubs. (Country Clubs are defined as offering a wide variety of amenities in addition to Golf and includes Residential Communities.)
The requirements to make the elite list are strict and include Universal Recognition, Excellence in Amenities and Facilities, Calibre of Staff and Professional Service Levels, Quality of Membership, Governance and prudent Fiscal Management, Adapting to Changing Times, and Overall Experience.
LPGA World Championship at the Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, California.
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David V Smith, President of Club Leaders Forum, says, “In the post-Covid era, most of the finest golf and country clubs in the nation have invested heavily in new and improved amenities and facilities which the voting body of more than 4000 Club Leaders recognize and has resulted in improved rankings in this year’s election. To their credit, these great Clubs are also investing in their most important asset, the staff, who have a strong commitment to training and further education, and they look to be acknowledged as the hospitality employer of choice in their geographic region.”
“Clubs that have not invested in renovations or new facilities to address the latest trends and demands from an ever-changing and younger member demographic have seen their ranking slip in the last few election cycles,” adds Smith. “The other common thread is that the most successful Clubs today have revised their governance structures and moved away from a board and committee-run club to appoint a CEO. In the finest clubs today, the board governs, and the management professionals operate.”
Rathan Kumar, Founder and CEO of MobiCom provides an online platform for Platinum Clubs to request access privileges at participating Platinum Clubs around the world through PlatinumClubNet and PrivateClubWorld. “We’re especially thrilled to offer Platinum Club members the ability to request access to our global network of over 1700 private clubs across 900 destinations worldwide,” he says.
Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
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Here are the top 20 Ranked Golf Clubs in America for 2025-2026:
1. Augusta National Golf Club (Georgia)
Counting only 300 members, including five billionaires like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, Augusta National is home to the Master’s tournament. The club offers many unique member amenities, including ten cabins providing lodging for members and one built for member President Dwight D Eisenhower. The famed concrete Clubhouse was built in 1854 as a private estate; it now includes a Masters Club. The Private Room is for the best of the best only, where the famed green champion jackets prove your importance in the ranks. Member initiation fees are believed to start at $40,000 with $10,000 annual dues.
A view from behind the green on the par 5, 503-yard third hole looking back up the fairway on the Lower Course at Baltusrol Golf Club
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2. Baltusrol Golf Club (New Jersey)
Baltusrol Golf Club was originally founded in 1895 by a group of avid golfers. Its 36-hole, two championship courses, the Lower and Upper, were created by architect A.W. Tillinghast in 1922. In 1912, it had the first clubhouse in America to host a U.S. President (Taft). The courses have hosted seven U.S. Open Championships, two PGA Championships, and one U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Initiation is believed to start at $150,000 plus $18,500 dues.
Church pew bunkering on the third hole at Oakmont Country Club.
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3. Oakmont Country Club (Pennsylvania)
Oakmont is one of the oldest golf clubs in America since its inception in 1903. The club, inspired by Scotland best courses, is located in Allegheny River Valley and has no water and few trees. With over two hundred bunkers, it is known as one of the most difficult in the United States. Memberships are by invitation only and believe to start at $200,000 with annual dues of $10,000.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
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4. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (New York)
You can only play at this Southampton Club if a member accompanies you, and good luck getting a tee time, which can be many months in advance. With the oldest golf clubhouse in the U.S., dating back to 1892, the course is located along the Shinnecock Hills and was designed by golf architect William Flynn. The club hosted the second U.S. Open in 1896 and will soon host the 2026 U.S. Open Championship and the 2036 U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Initiation fees are believed to be around $250,000.
Par 5, 4th hole on the East Course at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania
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5. Merion Golf Club (Pennsylvania)
The Merion Golf Club was launched in 1896 by a group of Philadelphia businessmen who shared a love for golf. With its renowned East Course, designed by Hugh Wilson, it has become one of the most prestigious golf clubs in the United States. Merion has hosted 18 USGA championships, more than any other in the country. Initiation fees are believed to start at $70,000.
Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey
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6. Pine Valley Golf Club (New Jersey)
Pine Valley Golf Club was founded in 1913 by a group of amateur golfers who inspired by the best courses in Scotland and England. The location is stunning with its rolling hillsides filled with sand dunes, pine trees, and natural hazards. With under 1,000 members, membership is not open to application, and even guests of members must have a low handicap to play. A very select number of women were welcome as members several years ago and are no longer restricted to playing only on Sunday afternoons. In fact, the 2034 Curtis Cup will be a historic week for women’s golf, albeit nine years away. Initiation fee is believed to be upwards of $100,000+ with dues around $10,000.
A view of the par 3, 16th hole at Cypress Point Golf Club in Carmel, California.
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7. Cypress Point Club (California)
With only 250 members, this is one of the world’s most desired clubs, and with an average of 30 golfers allowed to play a day, it is also one of the most exclusive. The stunning location is a major selling point as players golf along the Pacific Ocean on the Monterey Peninsula in Pebble Beach. The club was founded in 1928 by a small group of businessmen and designed by golf architect Alister MacKenzie, who also designed Augusta National. The most iconic part of the course is the par-3 16th hole, which has golfers shooting over the ocean. The initiation fee is believed to be above $250,000+ with extremely high annual dues.
Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania.
PGA
8. Aronimink Golf Club (Pennsylvania)
Located just outside of Philadelphia in Newtown Square, Aronimink dates back to 1896 when the Belmont Cricket Club created it. The Donald Ross-designed course is consistently rated one of the finest and most challenging in the United States. With over 300 members, initiation is believed to start at $100,000 with $40,000 yearly dues.
Caves Valley Golf Club in Baltimore, Maryland.
US PGA TOUR
9. Caves Valley Golf Club (Maryland)
Caves Valley Golf Club was founded in the late 1980s by a group of Baltimore business leaders who wanted a world-class golfing destination in Maryland filled with fast greens, rolling fairways, and water hazards. Famed golf course architect Tom Fazio was brought on to design the course, which opened in 1991. With approximately 540 members, the member-owned club is by invitation only, and prospective members must be sponsored. Initiation fees run upwards of $100,000, with annual dues of $10,000.
The 521 yard par 5, 9th hole, ‘Meadow’ with the clubhouse on the West Course at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York
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10. Winged Foot Golf Club (New York)
The club was established by a group of businessmen from the New York Athletic Club in 1921. It now boasts many famous members, including President Donald Trump. Winged Foot has two golf courses, and among the highlights is the stunning historic stone clubhouse with a slate roof built in 1929. As well as hosting numerous U.S. Open Championships, it has also been the site of the PGA Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship. Membership is strictly invitation-only, and the waiting list for membership is over a decade long. The initiation fee starts at $150,000, with annual dues reportedly over $15,000.
11. Desert Highlands Golf Club (Arizona)
11. Seminole Golf Club (Florida)
13. Chicago Golf Club (Illinois)
14. Jupiter Hills Club (Florida)
15. The Sanctuary (Florida)
16. Bighorn Golf Club (California)
17. The Loxahatchee Club (Florida)
18. San Francisco Golf Club (California)
19. National Golf Links of America (New York)
20. Muirfield Village Golf Club (Ohio)
*50 Golf Clubs were selected for Platinum Status for 2025
Congressional Country Club in Maryland
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Here are the top 20 Ranked Country Clubs in America for 2025-2026:
1. Congressional Country Club (Maryland)
2. Ocean Reef Club (Florida)
3. The Vintage Club (California)
4. Addison Reserve Country Club (Florida)
5. Boca West Country Club (Florida)
6. John’s Island Club (Florida)
7. Country Club of Virginia (Virginia)
8. Desert Mountain Club (Arizona)
9. Medinah Country Club (Illinois)
10. Fisher Island Club (Florida)
11. Cherokee Town and Country Club (Georgia)
11. The Clubs at Admiral Cove (Florida)
13. Isleworth Golf and Country Club (Florida)
14. River Oaks Country Club (Texas)
15. Southern Hills Country Club (Oklahoma)
16. Houston Country Club (Texas)
17. Indian Creek Country Club (Florida)
18. Jupiter Island Club (Florida)
19. The Los Angeles Country Club (California)
20. Bellerive Country Club (Missouri)
*150 Country Clubs were selected for Platinum Status for 2025-2026.
*Some Country Club facts were sourced from Country Club Magazine with Club initiation and membership cost information listed as estimates only.
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Publish date : 2025-01-06 21:56:00
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