Residents of the West Palm Beach development at the Ironhorse Country Club won a legal victory when an appellate judge said they should not be charged mandatory membership fees. The appeal resolves a 2005 lawsuit filed against the homeowners’ association, citing a 2008 circuit court ruling that backs off the fees. The decision could be a boon to Floridians in similar situations, but Bob Naples president of the member-owned Ironhorse, said the drop in membership will add to the already considerable financial strain there. [Palm Beach Post]
Court: Membership fees not mandatory at country club development
December 18, 2009 02:07PM
February 24, 2010 at 4:46 am, Anonymous said:
How illogical is it to convert to Mandatory Membership in a previously voluntary member community. It does not take a financial wizard to recognize that the immediate pool of potential home buyers is limited. Life styles have changed, fewer couples and families are partaking in Golf Clubs especially since they can have a pool in their back yard much cheaper and it adds value to their home rather than reducing it like Mandatory Membership does.
January 02, 2010 at 3:05 pm, Anonymous said:
Mandatory membership is the scourge of the South Florida Country Club scene. When clubs don’t have to compete for their members business, they become lax in their offerings. When the competitive pressure is maintained through optional membership, a club simply has to work harder to get members to dine, play golf and pay for club life. It’s simple capitalism at its finest, and it just makes sense.