| It is said that there are more golf courses per capita in | | | | swimming, dining, fitness center and golf limited to the |
| SouthWest Florida than anywhere else in the United | | | | summer months and/or a limited to fixed number of |
| States, with championship course designs by Gordon | | | | tee times per month. Equity clubs almost always also |
| Lewis, Arthur Hills, Bob Cupp, Tom Fazio, Chip Powell, | | | | have a social membership option as well.In most of the |
| and Jack Nicklaus, to name a few. | | | | communities that have equity golf clubs, membership is |
| For many home buyers, golf is what draws them to | | | | not required. That is, non-golfers also live in the |
| the region, so understanding the types of golf | | | | community.Equity Club Examples: Gulf Harbour (Fort |
| membership is a key part of the decision-making | | | | Myers), Miromar (Fort Myers), FiddleSticks (Fort Myers), |
| process. Here is an overview of the lingo used when | | | | Pelican Bay (Naples), Bonita Bay (Bonita Springs) |
| describing the types of golf communities in SouthWest | | | | Price Ranges |
| Florida. (SouthWest Florida generally defines the | | | | Most communities have a mixture of condos, villas, |
| communities of Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Punta | | | | townhomes, and single-family homes. Prices range |
| Gorda, Bonita Springs, and Sanibel/Captiva.) | | | | from $250,000 to the multi-millions. |
| Bundled Membership | | | | More On Golf |
| The majority of golf communities are called "bundled," | | | | Public Courses: Players pay a greens fee and cart |
| where membership is bundled together with title to the | | | | fee. Fees vary during the year, with higher rates in |
| property. All residents ("front doors") are members. | | | | season. Some courses have differing fee schedules |
| There is no initiation fee, but there are modest annual | | | | for residents versus non-residents. Examples: Coral |
| club dues of about $1800 - $4000 per year.Residents | | | | Oaks (Cape Coral), Tiburon (Ritz-Carlton, Naples), Shell |
| pay only a cart fee (or a trail fee if using your own | | | | Point (Fort Myers) |
| cart). The average number of "front doors" is around | | | | Semi-Private Clubs: A semi-private club is one that |
| 800 in each community. So the plus side of bundled | | | | has members but also allows non-members to play. |
| golf is affordability. The down side is that getting tee | | | | Some bundled golf clubs are semi-private. |
| times can be difficult in prime season.Title to the | | | | Walking: To keep play moving, most courses require |
| property and membership automatically passes to the | | | | carts. Some courses allow walking anytime, and others |
| new owner at closing; some clubs charge a transfer | | | | allow walking at certain times of the year (summer) |
| fee ($1000-$1500) to the buyer (or the seller may offer | | | | and/or certain times of the day (early morning, late |
| to pay the transfer fee).Bundled Club Examples: The | | | | afternoon). |
| Legends (Fort Myers), The Landings (Fort Myers), Kelly | | | | Reciprocal Play: Most clubs, bundled and equity, offer |
| Greens (Fort Myers), Cedar Hammock (Naples), | | | | reciprocal play privileges with area courses. Typically, |
| Forest Glen (Naples), CopperLeaf (Bonita Springs), | | | | reciprocal play is offered only in the off-season or |
| Royal Tee (Cape Coral), Burnt Store Marina (Punta | | | | summer months. |
| Gorda). | | | | Tenant Transfer Fee: For those who offer their |
| Equity Membership | | | | condo or home to renters, tenants can assume the full |
| Equity membership is an individual ownership in the | | | | rights and privileges as if they were the owners / |
| golf club, separate from ownership of a residence in | | | | members by paying a transfer fee of about $100 for |
| the community. Depending on the rules and regs, | | | | the time period they are in residence. This option is |
| membership might be open to residents only or open | | | | more often available in bundled communities.Brenda |
| to applicants anywhere. Membership is by application | | | | Boss is part of the SageRealtor team with Century 21 |
| and an initiation fee, ranging $40,000 to $250,000. | | | | Sunbelt Realty in SouthWest Florida. They work with |
| Depending on the community and fees, membership is | | | | buyers, sellers, and investors in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, |
| limited to 225 - 350 members per 18 holes. Annual club | | | | Naples, Punta Gorda and surrounding areas. Their |
| dues start around $5000 and can be much | | | | knowledge and expertise spans residental homes and |
| higher.Because people frequently move from one golf | | | | vacation properties, golf and yachting communities, |
| community to another in SouthWest Florida, equity | | | | multifamily properties, and vacant land. Brenda and her |
| initiation fees are usually refundable. Upon resignation, | | | | husband David Sage relocated to the area from the |
| the refund may be a percentage of what was paid | | | | Twin Cities in Minnesota and are avid boaters. They |
| for initiation, a 100% refund of what was paid, or a | | | | can help clients learn about the many wonderful facets |
| percentage of the prevailing rate.In some cases, an | | | | of the Gulf's ICW waterways, the Cape Coral canal |
| equity membership owner can sell the membership | | | | systems (over 400 miles of canals), and excursions to |
| independently or the owner can offer the membership | | | | the Keys or the Bahamas. Visit to learn more about |
| as a package with a condo or home in the community | | | | SouthWest Florida property, business, entertainment |
| that is for sale.Some equity clubs also offer an | | | | and real estate. The team also distributes a monthly |
| alternative sports membership, which includes tennis, | | | | e-mail newsletter, free when you sign-up at their site. |