North Texas country clubs are reaping the benefits of the pandemic-era golf boom and beefing up their amenities offerings.
Member-owned country clubs’ assets topped $431 million in Dallas-Fort Worth, the Dallas Business Journal reported, after reviewing IRS filings from thousands of clubs.
The area’s top clubs are: Dallas Country Club, which recorded $128.4 million in assets in 2023; Brook Hollow Golf Club near Love Field with $59.7 million in assets; and Northwood Club in Far North Dallas at $57.9 million. Dallas Country Club also ranked second statewide by asset value and led Texas in revenue, pulling in $32 million last year — ninth-highest in the country.
Nationwide, member-owned country club assets jumped 27 percent from 2020 to 2023, from a median of $1.4 million to $1.8 million. The surge reflects both a pandemic-driven influx of new members and a costly “amenity arms race” as clubs seek to stand out with lifestyle upgrades beyond the fairway.
Clubs that are leaning heavily into wellness and performance offerings are becoming the most successful, Mark Kovacs, a private club adviser, told the outlet. Kovacs pointed to an influx of health-focused additions — like cold plunges, infrared saunas and biometric tracking — as members demand facilities that cater to every generation.
“Luxury is shifting from material exclusivity to optimal health and time well spent,” Kovacs said.
That shift is reshaping club campuses into full-blown retreats. Noah DiPasquale, founder of Arizona-based Epic Golf Club, said the next wave will be “destination clubs” where members can spend an entire weekend without leaving the grounds.
The founders of coworking company Common Desk, Nick Clark and Dawson Williams, are developing a new club in Lake Highlands. The club is supposed to include a 6,000-square-foot pool, a gym with yoga and pilates studios, spa features like a sauna and cold plunge, plus two restaurants.
Rising land values and water constraints will continue to present challenges, making it harder to develop new courses near major metros, while existing clubs face mounting pressure to justify ballooning dues. Membership costs for golf clubs grew 9 percent from 2022 to 2023 and another 5 percent through mid-2025, according to Club Benchmarking’s Chris Davis.
Despite predictions of a slight dip in total course numbers through 2027, analysts expect a rebound beginning in 2028 as the industry stabilizes.
— Eric Weilbacher
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