Willoughby Golf Club

What Willoughby Golf Club does

Willoughby Golf Club is a private, member-owned golf and lifestyle community located in Stuart, Florida, on the state's Treasure Coast. Founded in 1989 by developer Erling Speer, the club operates as a Florida Homeowners Association spanning over 403 acres with 375 Country Club Member homes organized into eight connected neighborhoods, anchored by an Arthur Hills-designed 18-hole championship golf course most recently restored in 2024. The core property footprint includes a 25,000-square-foot clubhouse (also renovated in 2024), a 4,800-square-foot fitness center with onsite Cleveland Clinic physical therapy services, five Har-Tru clay tennis courts, two enclosed pickleball courts added in 2021, a resort-style pool with Cabana Bar & Grill, and dedicated event spaces.

The company generates revenue through multiple recurring and transactional streams: resident and non-resident membership dues structured across Equity Golf, Executive Golf, Social, Full Golf, House, and Tennis categories; special events revenue from weddings, private celebrations, and nonprofit/corporate functions; golf cart and trail fees; pro shop and club-fitting sales; and ancillary real estate activity via the community's property portal and Realtor Hub partnership. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the company website, phone inquiries, scheduled tours, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), a monthly blog (The Whisper), member referrals, and real estate agent partnerships. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and all membership sales occur through the club's internal sales organization under Director of Membership & Marketing Stephanie Donovan.

The 101-250 employee organization is led by an Assistant General Manager, Controller, Executive Chef, Catering & Events Manager, and Director of Membership & Marketing. The club is governed as a member-owned HOA with no parent company, private equity ownership, or external investors evidenced in the data; control rests with residential homeowners. Strategic activity over the past two decades has been oriented toward facility reinvestment rather than expansion, with notable capital projects including a 2007 irrigation upgrade, a $1.85 million 2011 clubhouse renovation, a 2015 Cabana Bar & Grill addition, a 2018 Fitness Center opening, 2021 pickleball courts, and the 2024 comprehensive course and clubhouse renovation executed in partnership with the Arthur Hills organization.

Name

Willoughby Golf Club

Legal name

Willoughby Golf Club

Website

https://willoughbygolfclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Willoughby Golf Club is a private, member-owned golf and lifestyle community in Stuart, Florida, serving 375 resident member homes plus non-resident members with an 18-hole Arthur Hills championship course, clubhouse, tennis, pickleball, fitness, and event venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Golf Club / Country Club

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Luxury Golf Resorts (THAGACAH)

Keywords

• Private golf club
• Country club membership
• Golf community living
• Racquet sports facilities
• Private event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuart

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Resident Membership Dues: Homeowners in the Willoughby community automatically become club members through home ownership. Residents pay an initial contribution plus annual dues. Golfing fees are covered by annual dues with exception of golf cart or trail fee.
2. Non-Resident Golf Membership: Full Golf members enjoy unlimited family golf and range privileges, paying only for cart or trail fees in addition to annual dues. Includes full clubhouse, pool, and tennis privileges.
3. Social and Tennis Memberships: House Members and Tennis Members pay annual fees for specific amenity access including clubhouse, cabana, tennis courts, pool facilities, social events, and dining privileges.
4. Special Events and Private Celebrations: Venue rental for weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, birthday celebrations, holiday parties, and corporate events. Catering and event management services provided by professional staff.
5. Real Estate (HOA Community): The club is a Florida Homeowners Association. Home sales within the gated community contribute to overall community value. Available homes and lots listed through the club's real estate section.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Willoughby Golf Club is a private, member-owned golf club community providing championship golf, tennis, pickleball, fitness, dining, pool, and special event venue services anchored by an 18-hole Arthur Hills-designed golf course. The club operates as a Florida Homeowners Association, where residential home ownership within the gated 400-acre community is integrated with club membership. Member and non-member categories access dining, racquet sports, social events, and private celebrations at the 25,000-square-foot clubhouse.

Product overview

Willoughby Golf Club is a private, member-owned golf community offering a comprehensive suite of recreational and lifestyle services centered around its Arthur Hills-designed 18-hole championship golf course. The club operates on a unified platform model where membership provides integrated access to golf, tennis, pickleball, fitness, dining, and special events facilities. The community spans over 400 acres with eight connected neighborhoods featuring single-family homes and custom estate homes, creating an integrated living-and-playing environment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Championship Golf Course An 18-hole Arthur Hills-designed championship golf course featuring coastal Florida terrain with towering palms, shading pines, rolling hills, and peaceful lakes; includes multiple tee boxes catering to various skill levels.
• Tennis and Pickleball Facilities Five well-lit Har-Tru clay tennis courts plus two enclosed professional-grade pickleball courts offering play from morning to night, with private instruction, group clinics, and seasonal events.
• Fitness Center and Wellness A 4,800-square-foot fitness center featuring state-of-the-art equipment, group fitness classes, functional training, personalized coaching, and onsite physical therapy services provided by Cleveland Clinic.
• Clubhouse and Dining Venues A 25,000-square-foot recently renovated clubhouse serving as the social hub, featuring the Grille Room, The Pointe restaurant, the Willoughby Room for private dinners, and the Cabana Bar & Grill poolside, with views of the golf course and lakes.
• Special Events Venue A premier event venue featuring indoor and outdoor spaces for weddings, celebrations, corporate events, and private parties with dedicated event professionals handling catering and event management.
• Real Estate - Neighborhood Homes Single-family neighborhood homes ranging from 2,000 to nearly 4,000 square feet with private pools, two-car garages, golf cart entrances, and views of golf courses and lakes, sold within the gated community.
• Real Estate - Estate Homes Custom-built estate homes encompassing up to 6,000 square feet of living space on larger lots with green parks and ponds for bass fishing, sold within the gated community.
• Golf Practice Facilities Expansive practice facilities featuring a hitting area, dedicated short-game complex, and tour-quality putting greens for member practice and instruction.
• Golf Pro Shop Full-service golf shop offering equipment, apparel, custom club fittings, and special member pricing.
• Resident Membership Categories Membership tiers for community residents including Equity Golf (full golf access), Executive Golf (afternoon play at reduced upfront cost), and Social Member (clubhouse, tennis, fitness, pool without golf), all with initial contribution and annual dues.
• Non-Resident Membership Categories Membership options for those residing outside Willoughby Golf Club, including Full Golf (unlimited family golf, range privileges, clubhouse, pool, tennis), House Member (clubhouse, cabana, tennis, pool, social events, dining), and Tennis Members (unlimited family tennis and pickleball, league play, pool).
• Pool and Cabana Bar Resort-style pool with Cabana Bar & Grill offering casual, open-air dining and sunset social gatherings for members and guests.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25+ Legacy Families representing multi-generational membership commitment to the club
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lost Tree Club: Private member-owned golf club and residential community in North Palm Beach, FL with championship golf, beach club, tennis, and dining. Directly comparable in private club + real estate model and affluent South FL buyer base.
• Sailfish Point: Ultra-private gated oceanfront golf community in Stuart, FL — same city as Willoughby. Comparable member-owned model, championship golf, tennis, fitness, and luxury homes within an exclusive HOA structure; competes for the same Treasure Coast buyer pool.
• The Bear's Club: Jack Nicklaus-designed private golf club in Jupiter, FL with luxury residential component. Comparable high-end private golf community serving affluent FL buyers; comparable amenity set focused on golf, dining, and fitness.
• Admirals Cove: Premier private golf and country club community in Jupiter, FL offering similar championship golf, tennis, fitness, marina, and luxury real estate. Directly comparable as Willoughby's Executive Chef (Marco Lombardini) previously served there, confirming direct peer positioning in the South FL private club market.
• John's Island Club: Private member-owned golf and country club community in Vero Beach, FL offering three championship courses, tennis, squash, beach club, and luxury real estate. Comparable membership model and Florida East Coast Treasure Coast positioning.
• Jonathan's Landing Golf Club: Private golf and country club community in Jupiter, FL with three golf courses, tennis, fitness, marina, and gated real estate. Comparable integrated membership + real estate model in the same South FL market.
• Old Marsh Golf Club: Private member-owned golf club in Palm Beach Gardens, FL offering championship Pete Dye-designed course and luxury residential community. Comparable private golf + residential model in the South FL market.
• Loblolly: Private member-owned golf and residential community in Hobe Sound, FL on the Treasure Coast. Comparable private club model with championship golf, tennis, dining, and luxury real estate within an exclusive gated setting.

Regional players

• Quail West Golf & Country Club: Private golf and country club community in Naples, FL on the Gulf Coast. Comparable luxury golf + residential integrated model, but geographically distinct (Naples vs. Stuart/Treasure Coast), serving a different buyer pool.

Broad incumbents

• TPC Sawgrass: PGA Tour-owned resort and private club destination in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Comparable golf-centric destination but with a broader resort/hospitality model (lodging, public play, tournaments) that extends beyond Willoughby's private member focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/willoughbygc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/willoughbygolfclub
• Instagraminstagram.com/Willoughbygolfclub
• Xx.com/willoughbygc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Willoughby Golf Club