Country Clubs Offer Blue-Light Specials

More Signs of the Times Department: numerous local country clubs are running bargain-basement sales on membership. A fanciful dream of a frustrated social climber? Maybe four years ago, but those seeking blissful weekend afternoons lolling beside the country club pool or power-putting with moguls on the golf course can take heart.

Yes, a few old-line Dallas clubs are maintaining appearances with full retail prices and a waiting list well into the next decade. The “Grande Dames” of Dallas country clubs-Dallas Country Club and Brook Hollow Golf Club-are holding the line. As for Preston Trails Golf Club, forget it if you are female or not one of Dallas’s 250 richest men.

But if you’re dying for that upper-crust logo on your golf shirt, Northwood Country Club will let you in today. The entry fee is $40, 000, but you can start teeing it up in less than thirty days. Columbian Country Club, the exclusive Jewish club, also is standing pat at $22, 000, but they’ll make arrangements with First RcpublicBank for a loan- if you have to ask.

And now, here’s the bargain basement:

-Gleneagles in Piano. $35, 000 fee, but they’ll take $3, 500 per annum for three annums, then negotiate depending on the economy. They’ve also got a five-year descending pay-out for a mere 30K.

-Prestonwood Country Club. They’ll let you in without asking for an initiation fee until they finish building their second clubhouse (completion date is set for December) assuming you’ve been invited to join by a current club member.

-Oak Cliff Country Club. Redesigned clubhouse and great greens for just $7, 500 per voting membership. If apathy’s your game, they’ll let you in without voting privileges for $2, 000.

-Bent Tree Country Club may be the deal of the century. A few years ago, it would have cost $30, 000 to hobnob on this fast track. Today, try a piddling $15, 000 for a 25 percent equity membership. No pay-out plans-let’s not get greedy.