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