The Club at Olde Cypress FAQ with Director of Membership & Marketing Melissa Hansen
There was a time, not long ago, when golfers from points north would say goodbye to their old country club, retire in sunny Naples and quickly join a new country club here in the "Golf Capital of the World." Don't get us wrong – this is still a thing. But my, how times have changed over the past three years.
Nowadays, couples and families of all ages are flocking to the Paradise Coast. Many are considering joining a club – some for the first time. At Olde Cypress, we've recently welcomed dozens of new members and have many others interested in joining. Whether they're young professionals, middle-aged moguls, or retired and loving it, they all ask great questions about life here at the club.
Olde Cypress Membership and Marketing Director Melissa Hansen was kind enough to sit down with us to help answer some of the most common questions she gets from new members and prospects.
Olde Cypress Offers Full and Associate Golf Memberships. Can you briefly explain the difference, and can members apply the deposit for the Associate to the Full when they're ready to upgrade?
Our Full Golf Membership is our "all-in" option. It includes unlimited golf year-around on our recently remastered P.B. Dye designed golf course, availability for all our tournaments and events and access to our practice facility with driving range, putting greens and chipping area. Our Associate Golf Membership is popular with younger members and those new to the area. It provides unlimited use of the course from May through October [note: all members pay a cart fee], 12 rounds from November through April, and unlimited use of the practice facility year-round. When Associate Members are ready to upgrade, we apply their original deposit and initiation fee to their Full Golf Membership.
How do members make tee times, and how far in advance can they book?
This is an easy one! Members can book tee times at our website when logged in with their username and password, on our easy-to-use app or by calling the golf shop. Tee times are available a week in advance for Full Members, and the digital options are reliable and easy to use. It's incredible; before the pandemic, about 75% of golf tee times were made over the phone – industry-wide. That's completely flipped as of 2023 and Olde Cypress was ahead of the curve in offering members a convenient, seamless digital booking option.
Olde Cypress is known as one of the most social clubs in Naples. Are there groups specifically for new members? Is it easy for new members to fit into longstanding groups?
Are there ever! We have an incredible onboarding process for new members with fun events ranging from dinners and mixers to golf, pickleball and tennis outings. Joining a private club is a big emotional and financial investment, and we want to ensure new members are aware of everything available to them throughout Olde Cypress. Not just the amenities but also introducing them to our team members in different departments. And I'd encourage all prospective and new members to check out this recent blog post to get a feel for how we set ourselves apart in the Naples area. We've had new members tell us that after a couple of weeks, they feel like they've been here for years.
Okay, a quick shift to a "bottom line" question: Are there assessments or food and beverage minimums?
Unlike most clubs in Naples – and the U.S. – Olde Cypress is privately owned [by STOCK Development], a longstanding Southwest Florida builder with a sterling reputation. Unlike member-owned clubs, we don't have assessments to pay for improvements, like the recent multi-million dollar reimagination of the golf course. And flying in the face of the norm, we don't have food and beverage minimums. In fact, we have members who dine here six days a week, with multiple meals daily! We're so proud of our culinary team, their creativity and the overall quality of all our food.
Does membership at Olde Cypress include children?
Membership at Olde Cypress doesn't just include children – it celebrates them. I love this blog post about the Gebeau family and how their son enjoys the club during the summer months. We offer various summer camps for kids of all ages, and come holiday season, Santa has been known to make an appearance at Olde Cypress! The bottom line, all memberships here are "family" memberships that include spouses and children under the age of 24.
Can you own your golf cart if you live here?
Not only can members own their own golf cart, they can also use it on the course! That's not the case at many Naples country clubs or around the state and country. Several Olde Cypress members who live in the community have their own golf carts and love that they can use them on the golf course. Oftentimes it's a big part of why people live and join here. They simply pay the annual cart plan fee and presto – they can play golf anytime with their cart.
Do members have to live in the Olde Cypress community?
Residency is not required, and the club is conveniently located outside the community's gates. We're just minutes from the beach, downtown Naples, and the Southwest Florida International Airport. There are dozens of residential developments within short drive of the Olde Cypress and numerous housing options nearby. As of this writing (Feb. 16, 2023), we currently have several properties on the market within the community ranging from $929,000 to $2,275,000.
How about those who are still working or have commitments elsewhere but want to live in Naples seasonally and enjoy the country club lifestyle?
I'm reminded of the old Apple commercial, "there's an app for that." Absolutely, we have a membership for those fitting that profile. It's the Associate Golf Membership mentioned above. There are also members who work long hours and travel during the peak season but have more time off and flexible work schedules over the summer. The Associate Golf Membership is ideal for them as well.
Download Our Lifestyle Brochure
Take a look at our New Lifestyle Brochure to learn more about membership options and get an inside look at the amenities and facilities that make our Club special.
Interested in learning more about the Lifestyle or Membership at Olde Cypress? Click here to contact Director of Membership and Marketing Melissa Hansen today.