What is Your Goal in Joining a Club?

The first step is to consider why you're joining a club in the first place. Is your goal to become more active, hit the links as much as you can, or perhaps it's to become more social. In addition, it is the club for you, you and your spouse, or you and your family. 

Do You Want a Golf Club or a Country Club?

This goes hand in hand with your reasoning for joining a club. A golf club and country club differentiate from one another because country clubs tend to have more amenities and have a great social scene beyond golf. At The Forest, we are a country club that focuses on two diverse golf courses, six tennis courts, four pickleball courts, and more! 

Is it a Golf Course You Like to Play?

We have heard stories of people joining a golf club because of the incredible deal, yet they don't enjoy the course. No matter how good of a deal a club is, if you don't like the golf courses, will it be worth it? You can only handle so many dogleg lefts when you have a huge slice. So, the important thing is to make sure you do a preview round of the course. It's so important to get a membership for a course you'll always be excited about playing regularly. 

Is the Course Well-Maintained?

While other courses can make up for designed deficiencies by having a well-maintained course, we prioritize both! With golf architecture and course design being a vital part of our two courses, our course maintenance staff allows our courses to continue to live out their legacy.

Is There a Day the Course is Closing? 

At The Forest, we have two elite and pristine courses allowing our member's golf access 365 days a year! While many private clubs close one day a week for maintenance, at least one of our courses is always open! Most of our course maintenance happens during our less busy summer months. So, while one course closes, the other is wide open for play! In addition, there's no waiting for tee times! 

Do You Have to Walk or Ride?

Many courses will give you an option but not all. At the Forest Country Club, we have walking times so you can enjoy golf in nature's most pristine setting. If you're someone who likes to walk your courses, but your club is a ride only, this can be problematic, and you won't be able to enjoy your game the way you want fully. 

Does the course have a Good Reputation in the Area?

This isn't necessarily a huge deal, but your club's reputation can have an impact on the rest of your golf life. It should be a place people WANT to play when they come to town, and friends here view it as a treat when they're able to come out. You may not care at all, but if you do, I've found this to have more of an impact than I expected. Many of our members and guests complement our courses and the nature of our staff and members. The atmosphere is always inviting, and sometimes that can be not easy to find at other clubs. 

How Far Away is the Club?

This is a bigger deal than you might think. Since we are a non-bundled community, you can live anywhere and still enjoy the amenities of The Forest. Luckily, we are only a 20-minute drive from the nearest airport, so your next weekend trip could be here! Not only is it essential to consider how far away the club is from your home, but how far other activities are from the club as well! Destinations like the nearest beach, the nearest boat club, or park can all have a significant impact on your decision. 

So, always be sure to ask the right questions when touring your next country club. It's a big commitment, and you never want to settle. The Forest Country Club has many memberships tailored to your specific needs. Just give our membership director, Brenda Lanza, a call at 239-482-1310 to discover which package is right for you and your family!