Members agree to spend a base amount at any of the club’s dining locations in addition to their dues.
A country club membership offers access to an exclusive food and dining scene. To maintain and support the club’s year-round offerings, a club will sometimes require a food and beverage minimum for each membership. This predetermined minimum requires that members either spend or prepay an amount on top of their standard dues that directly goes toward the dining options throughout the club.
While the food and beverage minimum widely varies based on the size and style of the club, there are a few similarities. For example, a club may request that members spend at least $150 a quarter at their restaurant, snack bar, or special event, or takeout. F&B minimums are typically due in quarterly or bi-annual amounts.
In some cases, alcohol is not included toward this total. A club may also choose to offer a discounted family minimum for larger groups, especially with children.
Members are typically given the option to pay their minimums at the start of the year and have until a certain cutoff date to use the funds before they expire. In other cases, the amount is simply tallied throughout the year as members enjoy a meal.
Clubs benefit from these minimums to maintain a high level of quality and operational standards no matter the seasonality of their many dining options. Everything from the green’s halfway house to the fine dining restaurant can budget for the year ahead without concern of fluctuating attendance.
These minimums also encourage greater member engagement off the green, creating a stronger community among members in the many dining options.
In some cases, a club may choose to forgo the food and beverage minimum and, instead, lump the amount in with the membership dues. However, an F&B minimum provides more flexibility for members while encouraging them to explore the many dining options offered throughout the property.
