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