The National GCC Bundled Golf Community
Location of Naples Area Golf Courses
The National at Ave Maria - Bundled Golf
The Naples area has over 70 golf courses. They include member owned clubs and corporate owned clubs. The National G&CC at Ave Maria is a member owned bundled golf community. Bundled golf communities are very desirable for homeowners looking to enjoy golf, without large initiation fees or large annual fees.
With bundled golf, golf membership is included with the home, there is no club initiation fee. At the National Golf club, membership is "bundled" with the home, and can never be unbundled. When an owner sells their home, the golf membership goes to the new owner.
Lennar at the National intends to construct 1,285 homes, with 899 homes with golf membership. That number of golf memberships, with both spouses being members, means there are not enough tee times in a day to accommodate all that want to play golf. This is usually the case in the peak occupancy months of January through March. Consequently, a system is used to distribute tee times fairly among playing members.
With bundled golf, golf membership is included with the home, there is no club initiation fee. At the National Golf club, membership is "bundled" with the home, and can never be unbundled. When an owner sells their home, the golf membership goes to the new owner.
Lennar at the National intends to construct 1,285 homes, with 899 homes with golf membership. That number of golf memberships, with both spouses being members, means there are not enough tee times in a day to accommodate all that want to play golf. This is usually the case in the peak occupancy months of January through March. Consequently, a system is used to distribute tee times fairly among playing members.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Bundled Golf
Advantages
There are many great advantages to bundled golf communities:
- There is a strong sense of fellowship in bundle golf communities. Everyone living inside the gate is a member. Those walking by, at the fitness center, on the golf course, at the restaurants, etc., are all members to the same club. With bundled golf you live where you play.
- No membership initiation to join, the club membership is transferred with the home. The membership is bundled with the home and can not be separated.
- Low club fees vs non-bundled clubs. Bundled golf annual dues are significantly less than non-bundled private golf clubs, as bundled clubs have more members sharing the operating costs.
- Same great amenities, or even better than non-bundled clubs – clubhouse, restaurants, grill room/bar, card room, golf course, practice facilities, pool, cabana, tennis, pickleball fitness, etc.
- The quality of the club and golf course match those of initiation fee golf club
Disadvantages
The main disadvantage to bundled golf is tee time pressure in the Peak Season. Traditionally, private golf clubs have memberships in the 300 member range and members are able to golf nearly every day if the desired.
With so many members at a bundled golf clubs, tee times have to be allocated by the club's tee time system.
Bundled Golf Homes Added by Decade
History of Bundle Golf Naples Area
Bundled golf communities emerged in the early 1970s, starting with the non-gated Glades community in east Naples. The Glades featured a par 3 and a short par 70 course. A decade later, Foxfire was introduced as a gated community offering 27 holes of golf. In the 1980s, Countryside was launched, providing options for social-only and full golf memberships, similar to the National
During the mid-1990s, the Naples area experienced a surge in bundled golf communities, which continued until the mid-2000s. Buyers at that time had numerous choices when it came to purchasing new construction in a bundled golf community. New construction was available during the early 2000s at Cedar Hammock, Forest Glen, Naples Lakes, Vanderbilt GCC and Cypress Woods.
The National GCC at Ave Maria is the first bundled golf community in the area since Esplanade was started in 2014.
During the mid-1990s, the Naples area experienced a surge in bundled golf communities, which continued until the mid-2000s. Buyers at that time had numerous choices when it came to purchasing new construction in a bundled golf community. New construction was available during the early 2000s at Cedar Hammock, Forest Glen, Naples Lakes, Vanderbilt GCC and Cypress Woods.
The National GCC at Ave Maria is the first bundled golf community in the area since Esplanade was started in 2014.