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Not even the ultra-rich can get into South Florida's most exclusive country clubs

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Not even the ultra-rich can get into South Florida's most exclusive country clubs


Not even the ultra-rich can get into South Florida’s most exclusive country clubs. Thanks to the influx of high net worth households moving from California, New York, and other wealthy enclaves in recent years, demand for memberships in elite country clubs in Boca Raton, Miami Beach, Jupiter, and Palm Beach has sky-rocketed, area real estate agents say.

So what’s the key to getting off the years-long waitlists? Historically, it’s entailed waiting for a slot to open while ensuring your golf stroke is good enough for these elite clubs. But for individuals feeling impatient, there is another way: tapping into a new wave of luxury golfing communities that are starting to dominate the area social scene. More of these developments are springing up in South Florida to meet the demand of ultra-wealthy transplants who want to socialize with other VCs and CEOs but don’t yet have the clout to join the area’s more traditional clubs.

“The only way for new people to get in the club is if people pass away or the cost continues to increase so much that somebody doesn’t want to be a member anymore,” Devin Kay, a local real estate agent with Douglas Elliman, tells Fortune. “It’s become a gigantic problem for people moving down here.”

Courtesy of Shell Bay

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Admittance to the top spots is invitation-only, and that can be an obstacle for newcomers arriving from distant places like Boston or Chicago. Kay, who is used to closing deals on the green, can help with that. A former pro golfer, Kay is also a member of the storied La Gorce Country Club in Miami Beach and the Shell Bay Club, a new development in Hallandale Beach.

“Joining has become next to impossible,” Kay says of the more traditional country clubs, adding that the newer golf communities “have become tremendously popular now because they give people real estate and get them into the club.”

At the more traditional La Gorce—one of the most exclusive country clubs in South Florida—members must be sponsored by five other current members, and there is a $1 million fee to join, says Kay (the clubs don’t publicly advertise their membership prices), plus a years-long waitlist.

“If you try to join a club now, the list does not go by the order you requested to join. It goes by the order of who they want to get in,” says Gary Pohrer, a former pro-golfer who works alongside Kay at Douglas Elliman. “The waitlist is indefinite unless you meet the right people.”

Meanwhile, buying a property in a new development like Shell Bay, where condos start at $2 million, can get owners on the greens straight away with a discounted membership. Golfers can also pay $1.4 million outright to join (though given the current cap, the club is only accepting new members who buy a residence at this time, Kay says). For most Americans, spending well over a million for a luxury condo or a golf membership is out of the question, but among the hedge fund managers and techies flocking to South Florida, there is no shortage of demand.

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If the membership prices seem steep—most clubs cost in the hundreds of thousands to join, plus yearly dues and minimum spends—they reflect what the ultra wealthy are willing to pay. Many of the top South Florida clubs have doubled or tripled their fees since the pandemic thanks to demand.

For those willing to purchase a condo in one of the new developments, Kay notes they get more for their membership than access to the golf club. In addition to a 9-hole and 18-hole golf course, Shell Bay boasts tennis and pickleball courts, a yacht club with a 48-slip private marina, and a spa. Residents can charter a private helicopter for a fishing trip in the Bahamas. It’s everything the ultra wealthy need all in one place.

The new communities solve one of the ultra-rich’s biggest problems, says Kay. At least until they fill up, too.

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NHL EDGE stats for Florida Panthers | NHL.com

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NHL EDGE stats for Florida Panthers | NHL.com


1. Forward Sam Reinhart ranked second in the NHL in high-danger goals (34) last season, behind Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers (44), and was second in high-danger shooting percentage (35.1), behind Artemi Panarin (36.6) of the New York Rangers, among those who had at least 200 total shots on goal.

Reinhart signed an eight-year contract this offseason after finishing second on the Panthers in Stanley Cup Playoff goals (10; behind Carter Verhaeghe, 11) during their championship run. Reinhart scored the game-winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Reinhart was tied with teammate Matthew Tkachuk for third in high-danger shots on goal (29) in the playoffs and tied for sixth in high-danger goals (five).

Though there could be some regression for Reinhart in shooting percentage, goals (NHL career-high 57; second in NHL behind Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, 69) and points (led Panthers with NHL career-high 94), it’s worth noting he was also among the leaders in goals (16; 90th percentile) and shots on goal (108; 97th percentile) from high-danger areas two seasons ago in 2022-23.

Other EDGE metrics suggesting Reinhart has staying power include his total skating distance (266.55 miles; 94th percentile) and offensive zone time percentage at even strength (45.7; 96th percentile) last season. Most importantly, Florida’s elite forward group of center Aleksander Barkov and wings Tkachuk and Reinhart remains intact, giving the Panthers a real chance to defend their title.

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2024 South Florida football predictions: Ranked No. 70 by RJ Young

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2024 South Florida football predictions: Ranked No. 70 by RJ Young


South Florida Bulls Ranking: 70/134

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[Check out RJ Young’s ultimate 134 college football rankings here]

Conference ranking: 4th in American Athletic (+650 to win conference)
Teams ahead of them: UNLV (69), California (68), Jacksonville State (67), Tulane (66), Arkansas State (65)
Teams behind them: Marshall (71), Minnesota (72), Old Dominion (73), UCLA (74), Northwestern (75)

[South Florida 2024 schedule]

RJ’s take: In quarterback Byrum Brown, Alex Golesh might have the best G5 QB in the country. While most people stopped looking at USF after their close loss to Alabama last year, Brown finished with 3,292 pass yards and 809 rush yards.

Brown, AKA Scrambled, is a Michelin Star chef in the backfield. Let him cook. And teach him to throw it deep. Past 15 yards, he just hasn’t shown himself to be accurate.

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The problem for Golesh will be his defense, which ranked outside the top 100 in 2023. It can be the team that gave Bama a hard time and that stomped out Syracuse 45-0 in the Boca Raton Bowl.

South Florida’s Win Total Odds: Over 7 (-120) Under 7 (-110)

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Nature: Horseshoe crabs in Florida

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Nature: Horseshoe crabs in Florida


Nature: Horseshoe crabs in Florida – CBS News

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We leave you this Sunday morning among horseshoe crabs at Gator Creek, near Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. Videographer: Doug Jensen.

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