Golf is a sport of precision, patience, and—let’s be honest—privilege. Some courses are so exclusive, so private, and so absurdly expensive that the average golfer has a better chance of sinking a hole-in-one while blindfolded than ever setting foot on the property.
These clubs don’t just keep the riffraff out—they make even billionaires wait for an invite. Here are the 15 most exclusive golf clubs in the world, ranked from super exclusive to you-need-a-private-jet-and-a-title-to-even-ask-for-an-application.
15. Winged Foot Golf Club (USA)
Located in New York, this club is famous for hosting U.S. Opens and crushing the dreams of average golfers with its brutal greens. Getting in? You better know a guy who knows a guy.
14. The Bear’s Club (USA)
Jack Nicklaus’ personal creation in Florida is where the ultra-wealthy and elite golfers play—including a few guys who own their own sports franchises. Membership fees are rumored to be in the six-figure range, but hey, at least the weather’s nice.
13. Sunningdale Golf Club (UK)
This historic English club is as exclusive as it is stunning. Sunningdale oozes old-money charm, and if you don’t carry yourself like a member of the aristocracy, you probably aren’t getting in.
12. St. George’s Golf and Country Club (Canada)
One of the finest courses in North America, St. George’s keeps its membership list tighter than Fort Knox. If you’re looking for a tee time here, good luck—unless you’re a former prime minister.
11. The Golf Club (USA)
Yes, that’s the name. Just The Golf Club. Located in Ohio, this ultra-exclusive club keeps a low profile, has no extravagant clubhouse, and caters only to the most serious golfers.
10. Loch Lomond Golf Club (Scotland)
This Scottish beauty blends history, exclusivity, and pure golfing perfection. If you want in, prepare to shell out massive initiation fees and probably buy a plaid blazer.
9. Pine Valley Golf Club (USA)
Arguably the best course in the world that most people will never even get to see. If Augusta is golf’s Vatican, Pine Valley is its Area 51—only the chosen few ever get in.
8. Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster (USA)
Whether you love or hate the name, there’s no denying this New Jersey course is ultra-elite. Memberships are by invitation only, and the initiation fee is rumored to be in the six to seven-figure range.
7. Oakmont Country Club (USA)
A club so exclusive and difficult, the U.S. Open keeps coming back just to watch players suffer. Even if you do get in, playing here is like golf’s version of boot camp.
6. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (USA)
One of the oldest and most historic clubs in the U.S., Shinnecock Hills is near impossible to get into—unless you have generational wealth and a last name straight out of a Gatsby novel.
5. Cypress Point Club (USA)
This stunning California course is invite-only, and not just anyone gets invited. Celebrities, billionaires, and golf’s elite roam these fairways, while the rest of us admire from a distance.
4. Muirfield (Scotland)
Home to The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers—yes, honourable with a ‘u’—Muirfield doesn’t just let anyone in. The history, the exclusivity, and the deep, deep pockets required make this one of the hardest memberships to attain.
3. Augusta National Golf Club (USA)
The Holy Grail of American golf. Augusta is so exclusive that even some of the world’s most powerful figures can’t get in. If you don’t own a Fortune 500 company or have a green jacket already, you can forget about joining.
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2. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (Scotland)
Golf’s true birthplace. You don’t just apply to be a member here—you need an incredible golf resume, powerful connections, and probably a bloodline linked to Scottish royalty.
Read More: Ranking the 30 Greatest Golf Courses in the US
1. The Valley Club of Montecito (USA)
The most exclusive of all exclusive clubs, The Valley Club is where the ultra-elite go to disappear. With membership nearly impossible to obtain, it’s the ultimate status symbol in the golf world.
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