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Trends in private clubs

Key findings from RSM's 2018–19 Trends in Private Clubs report that club leaders and management should know.

Trends in private clubs

Key findings from RSM's 2018-19 Trends in Private Clubs report

CLUBS ARE REPLENISHING AND REDEVELOPING AMENITIES AND OFFERINGS

Click the arrows to see the stats

$1.1 billion
spent on capital improvements
(2015–2017)

45% of clubs are planning significant capital improvement projects within the next 12 months

Clubs have a planned aggregate spend of
$530 million in the next 12 months

NEW MEMBERS PAY MORE FOR ACCESS TO THESE NEW AND IMPROVED CLUBS

FULL MEMBERSHIP JOINING FEES INCREASED BY 15%
FROM 2011 TO 2017

DEBT LEVELS CONTINUE TO RISE TO FUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

75% OF CLUBS HAVE

THIRD-PARTY DEBT

SO THAT MEANS...

...DEBT PER FME INCREASED TO

$9,150 through 2017—

THAT IS UP 14 PERCENT!

THE BIGGER THEY ARE

THE MORE THEY BORROW

Whether judged by operating revenue or membership levels, debt levels tend to trend higher at larger clubs—click the buttons to see the stats

Smaller clubs

Larger clubs

Clubs with less than $5 million in operating revenue have a debt-to-equity ratio of only 0.31 and debt per full membership equivalent (FME) of $4,020

REVENUE

DEBT-TO-EQUITY

DEBT TO FME

BACK

Clubs with operating revenue over $30 million have a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.7 and debt per full member equivalent (FME) of $11,160

REVENUE

DEBT-TO-EQUITY

DEBT TO FME

BACK

Restaurant sales per FME only increased...

From 2013–2017

Only

17¢ PER DOLLAR

goes to subsidize dining operations

Clubs with a lower food-to-beverage consumption ratio tend to have a lower overall food and beverage subsidy.

WHAT THAT MEANS...

IT COSTS THE CLUB LESS TO SERVE A BEER THAN A SANDWICH!

Is the employee-to-member ratio HIGHER

for country clubs or beach and yacht clubs?

Select one:

COUNTRY CLUBS

BEACH AND YACHT CLUBS

Same

Can you guess how much payroll-related costs INCREASED per FME in 2017?

3%

5%

11%

The employee to member ratio of yacht and beach clubs is NEARLY TWICE that of country clubs

For all clubs, payroll-related costs per FME increased by 3%

Golf course maintenance costs on the rise

Increasing by 33% from 2007 to 2017

← BACK

Cost per hole
increased to

$91,600
for 18-hole facilities

DUES REPRESENT

OF COUNTRY CLUB OPERATING REVENUE

Dues have increased 21% since 2011 and remain the financial lifeblood of every club and need to keep pace with operating costs

Dive into the details

Our research over many years and close observation of the club marketplace clearly demonstrates that private clubs have had to adapt to rapid demographic, societal and financial changes, and there is no sign of those changes slowing down or abating. Clubs have had to react, or shut their doors. Dive deeper into the details by viewing our full 2018–19 report.

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