Royal Birkdale membership charges: How a lot it prices to affix the Open Championship host membership

Jordan Spieth is a member of Royal Birkdale.

However he needed to win the 2017 Open Championship to earn that honor.

Which begs the query, now that the Open is again at Royal Birkdale: for these of us who’ll by no means hoist the Claret Jug, what does it take to affix the membership?

Given its event pedigree and regal designation, you may anticipate Royal Birkdale to cost a king’s ransom. However that is England, not america, the place initiation charges at marquee golf equipment routinely climb into six figures. Like many prime golf equipment throughout the UK and Eire, Royal Birkdale retains membership comparatively reasonably priced whereas drawing vital income from outdoors play. Inexperienced charges vary from £450 to £495 (roughly $610 to $670), relying on the season, and golfers are clearly prepared to pay them. In line with the membership’s web site, customer occasions at Royal Birkdale are successfully offered out.

Evaluate that to the price of becoming a member of. A number of sources with shut ties to Royal Birkdale advised GOLF.com that the membership’s initiation payment is £6,600 (about $9,000). After that, annual dues are £2,200, or round $3,000.

By championship-golf requirements, that’s a cut price.

There’s a catch, in fact. Membership is full, and openings don’t crop up fairly often. There’s no ready record, both. As an alternative, potential members want an current member to suggest them and one other to second the nomination, together with as many further supporters as they’ll muster.

Then comes the vetting course of. Potential members play a number of rounds with present members, who aren’t merely evaluating their golf. In addition they need to know whether or not you’d make for an excellent clubmate. Are you nice firm? Are you able to get across the course at an affordable tempo? In brief, are you somebody they’d really take pleasure in spending 18 holes with, plus time on the bar?

Successful the Claret Jug stays the quickest path to membership. For everybody else, endurance—and the best taking part in companions—must do.