FROM SEMI-PRIVATE TO PRIVATE: Membership Growth Doesn’t Happen by Accident
The momentum at The Club At Forest Ridge has been driven by more than just strong sales. It has been the result of a coordinated strategy focused on positioning the club for its future as a fully private country club while building confidence, excitement, and demand in the market.
Since the beginning of 2025, The Club at Forest Ridge has added 185 net new members and increased membership revenue by more than 40% year over year. In 2025, the club welcomed 105 new members with a net gain of 80. Through just the first four months of 2026, the club added another 110 new members and is already sitting at a net gain of 105 members. Total membership is now approaching 500 members, including nearly 300 golf members.
A major factor in that success has been the club’s commitment to a clear long-term vision. By publicly committing to the transition to fully private in November 2026, The Club at Forest Ridge created urgency while reinforcing exclusivity and long-term value.
At the same time, the club continued to strategically increase initiation fees to reflect the growing demand and its future positioning. Over the last year, initiation fees increased from $2,500 to $5,000, with another increase planned to $7,500.
Supporting growth involved a broad, coordinated marketing strategy developed by Bobby Jones Links, emphasizing consistent messaging across digital, print, PR, member, and community outreach channels.
HOW DID BOBBY JONES LINKS ACCOMPLISH THIS?
• Targeted paid social media campaigns focused on golfers, families, racquet sports, and lifestyle audiences
• Google SEM and search advertising campaigns targeting prospective members actively searching for clubs and golf memberships
• Prospect email campaigns to thousands of leads and web inquiries already in the database
• Internal member communications designed to build confidence, transparency, and excitement around the private transition
• Direct mail campaigns to residents and former members, promoting reinstatement opportunities and educating them on the future of the club
• New homeowner outreach campaigns targeting recently moved residents in the surrounding community
• Public relations efforts, including the announcement of the club’s transition to fully private
• Radio advertising promoting membership opportunities, pricing changes, and the club’s long-term vision
• Strategic partnerships and sponsorships, including involvement with professional pickleball programming that introduced new audiences to the club and created additional energy around the racquet sports experience
While the marketing strategy created awareness and demand, leadership and operational alignment helped convert that momentum into growth. A focused Membership Director, strong club leadership, and a team committed to building the future private club experience — not simply maintaining the old semi-private model — have all played an important role in the club’s success.
The result has been more than membership growth. The Club at Forest Ridge has built momentum, strengthened its identity in the market, and created a clear sense that people want to be part of where the club is headed next.
