Golf has always been one of the most prestigious sports in the world. Etiquette and unwritten rules give golf its very own image. And this image is celebrated above all in the golf clubs of this world. Whether it’s the dress code, turf etiquette or horrendous admission fees – the really prestigious golf clubs are not for everyone. However, the clubs offer the best of the best.
Well-maintained courses, impressive clubhouses and plenty of high society. It’s not uncommon to hear people in these circles talk about social aristocracy – and if you want to be part of it, you have to open your wallet wide. We present the most expensive and prestigious golf clubs in the world.
Liberty National Golf Club
It’s no surprise that the New York metropolitan area is home to numerous high-ranking golf clubs. Money is simply at home in the commercial and financial center of the Big Apple. Long Island, in particular, is home to many golf clubs that compete with each other to be the most prestigious. Since 2006, millionaires in New Jersey have been able to sink their balls on the west bank of the Hudson River in one of the most impressive golf courses in the world. Opened in 2006 and costing almost 250 million dollars to build, it is one of the most expensive courses in the world. However, as Golfpost reports, the course initially failed to impress the pros. The course was designed by Bob Cupp and Tom Kite. Located on the coast, all courses offer a wonderful view of the New York skyline. If you want to become a member here, the 500,000 dollar admission fee should not be a problem. But it also includes a helipad, yacht dock, spa and restaurant. Celebrity members include professional golfer Phil Mickelson, football star Eli Manning and singer and actor Justin Timberlake (as of October 16). These superstars are not deterred by the high registration fees.
The Bridge Golf Club
A golf club with a difference, but no less exclusive – the Bridge Golf Club. On the site of the old Bridehampton Racing Circuit on Long Island, commodities trader Robert Rubin opened a golf club that is second to none in 2003. Things are a little more relaxed here, so you can even stand on the green in jeans and a cap. However, you do need to have around 600,000 dollars to do so. The futuristic clubhouse, which blends in perfectly with the post-modern ambience of the former race course, is one of the rewards.
Mission Hills Golf Club
The game of golf is extremely popular – and exclusive – not only in the United States, but also in the Far East. Admission fees in the millions are not uncommon here. For example, at the impressive Koganei GC in Tokyo or Mission Hills in Shenzen near Hong Kong. This is not only one of the most expensive golf courses in the world, but also one of the largest. Golf-Extra visited the course in Shenzen. Players certainly don’t get in each other’s way on the twelve 18-hole courses. The motto here is to play hard rather than fast. Here, too, members are offered everything their hearts desire, from a golf resort to wellness, hotels and a shopping center.
Bighorn Golf Club
Golf is of course also played on the other side of the Pacific. In California in particular, there is of course an elite golfing society. This society meets, for example, at the Bighorn Golf Club, an oasis in the middle of the Californian desert. Here you can become a member for just over 300,000 dollars. Two modern courses offer breathtaking views of the backdrop of hills and canyons. The architectural collaboration between Arthur Hill and Tom Fabzio is reflected not only in the impressive course with great views, but also in the exclusive clubhouse costing over 70 million dollars.
The Wentworth Club
The “old world” is of course a must when it comes to exclusive golf. in 2014, a Chinese investor group bought the traditional Virginia Water Golf Club, which is located near Windsor Castle. Drastically increased annual fees and admission fees for new members of over 250,000 pounds raised eyebrows, but did nothing to dampen the popularity of the golf club. Golf.de reports on the renovation of the Wentworth course. The BMW PGA Championship is also traditionally held here.
Of course, golf is not so expensive everywhere, but it is precisely the golf clubs in extremely exposed locations that create an elitist image for themselves with their high admission fees. Be it on the East Coast of America near New York, in the Far East or Good Ol’ Britain – the exclusive sport of golf is at home all over the world.
