Why Country Club Waitlists Keep Growing

Minnesota’s country clubs have officially entered a new era, and if you’ve tried joining one recently, you’ve likely felt the shift. Nearly half of clubs across the country now operate with active waitlists, including local favorites like Wayzata, Dellwood, and Minnetonka. Those lists aren’t shrinking anytime soon.

Nationwide, the median initiation fee has doubled in just five years, rising from twenty-five thousand to fifty thousand dollars. Here in the Twin Cities, premium clubs can climb well into six figures, reflecting new levels of demand and prestige.

Lifestyle Over Fairways

The surge isn’t just about golf. Millennials and young families are fueling the boom, searching for social hubs and full-lifestyle experiences rather than traditional golf-only environments. Resort-style pools, fine dining, family programming, pickleball, modern fitness centers, and year-round community events are now the real differentiators.

Value has officially expanded beyond the fairways. Club living today is about convenience, community, and the upgraded, all-inclusive lifestyle these amenities deliver.

Clubs Respond With Major Investment

To meet shifting expectations, clubs across Minnesota are investing heavily in renovations and expansions. Multi-million dollar upgrades are underway or recently completed at many of the most desirable memberships. That means new pickleball courts, expanded dining pavilions, enhanced outdoor spaces, redesigned fitness centers, and refreshed clubhouses created to attract — and retain — the next generation of members.

Supply simply isn’t keeping up with demand. As more families seek year-round recreation and community-driven amenities, waitlists grow longer, and joining earlier has become essential.

A New Factor in Luxury Home Buying

For buyers in the luxury market, proximity to a top-tier club has become a meaningful value driver. Homes near Wayzata Country Club, White Bear Yacht Club, Mendakota, and Dellwood continue to see increased interest from those looking to blend lifestyle, convenience, and recreation into their everyday living.

For many, the premium is worth it. For others, public courses and social memberships still offer strong alternatives.

Where Do You Stand?

Country club memberships are changing fast, and expectations are rising right alongside initiation fees. Are the growing costs worth the elevated lifestyle, or do the best experiences still come from public courses and flexible memberships?

If you have a friend considering club life, share this with them — and let me know which Twin Cities club you think delivers the best amenities.