Suburban Golf Club

What Suburban Golf Club does

Suburban Golf Club, Inc. is a private, non-profit membership corporation that owns and operates an 18-hole golf course in Union, Union County, New Jersey. Founded in 1896 (originally as the Suburban Club of Elizabeth), the club has approximately 230 golf members who pay annual dues and one-time initiation fees under a recurring subscription model. The course was redesigned in 1922 by renowned golf architect A.W. Tillinghast on 64 acres acquired in 1912; it measures 6,525 yards at Par 71 with two par-5s and three par-3s, and holds a course record of 63 set by Ryan McCormick.

The core product portfolio centres on the historic golf course, supplemented by a Pro Shop, clubhouse dining facilities, a tournament programme running more than 30 annual events, GHIN handicap services, PGA-led instruction for adults and juniors, and event banquet services. The club operates on Jonas Club Software (standard club management SaaS) and has integrated the Whoosh mobile app for member check-in and daily agenda viewing. The property sits near the intersection of the Garden State Parkway, U.S. Route 22, and NJ Route 82, approximately 15-17 miles from Manhattan, serving North Central New Jersey and the greater New York metropolitan area.

The business model is a classic private-equity-free, member-owned non-profit: revenue is derived almost exclusively from member dues, initiation fees, pro shop retail, dining, banquet/catering, and tournament entry fees. The club acquires members through personal referrals, sponsorship, and application rather than marketing channels; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organisation has rejected multiple developer purchase offers over the decades (1956, 1959, 1960-62), preserving its independent, member-governed status. Its most material capital event was a $2 million course renovation in 1999 led by architect Ron Prichard.

Name

Suburban Golf Club

Legal name

Suburban Golf Club, Inc.

Website

https://suburbangolfclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Suburban Golf Club, Inc. is a private, non-profit membership corporation operating an 18-hole A.W. Tillinghast-designed golf course in Union, New Jersey, serving approximately 230 golf members via recurring dues and initiation fees alongside ancillary dining, retail, and event services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Golf 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)

Keywords

• Private golf club
• Golf course access
• Club membership services
• Golf instruction
• Event banquets

Headquarters

HQ city

Union

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues and Initiation Fees: Revenue generated from membership initiation fees and annual dues from approximately 230 golf members. Historical records show the club has maintained membership-based revenue since its founding in 1896.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Suburban Golf Club operates a private, non-profit membership golf club in Union, New Jersey, centered on an 18-hole Par 71, 6,525-yard course designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1922. The club sells private golf memberships (approximately 230 members) and provides on-site hospitality including clubhouse dining, a pro shop, golf instruction from PGA professionals, a tournament program with over 30 annual events, and banquet/event hosting. Members play without tee-time reservations at a location approximately 17 miles from Manhattan.

Product overview

Suburban Golf Club is a private golf club offering a single, unified property centered on its historic 18-hole A.W. Tillinghast-designed golf course (Par 71, 6,525 yards). The core product portfolio includes the golf course itself, a Pro Shop, and Clubhouse Dining facilities. These are supplemented by integrated service modules: GHIN Handicap Services for handicap management, Golf Instruction led by PGA professionals for members at all levels, a Tournament Program running over 30 annual events, and Event Banquets for private celebrations. A Whoosh app integration enables mobile check-in, and an interactive Course Tour/Scorecard provides hole-by-hole course navigation. The club positions itself as a traditional golf institution with no tee times, emphasizing its century-old design heritage and proximity to Manhattan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Golf Course (18-Hole Membership Access) Private member access to an 18-hole, Par 71, 6,525-yard A.W. Tillinghast-designed golf course with no tee times required, for individual golf members and their guests.
• Pro Shop Full-service golf shop offering equipment, apparel, and golf supplies to members and guests, managed by Linda Ann McCormick.
• Golf Instruction Personalized golf instruction in full swing, short game, putting, and strategy, plus junior camps and clinics for ages 7-13, delivered by PGA professionals Mark McCormick and Paul LeJeune.
• Clubhouse Dining Dining facilities including dining room, grill room, and patio with various menus available to members and their guests.
• Event Banquets and Private Hosting Private event hosting for weddings, anniversaries, cocktail parties, showers, charity fundraisers, and business meetings with indoor and outdoor banquet space available to members and their guests.
• Tournament Program Over 30 annual member tournaments including Two Ball Championship, Men's 45 Hole Member/Member Tournament, Suburban Invitational Member-Guest Tournament, and Men's and Ladies Club Championships.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• TPC Jasna Polana: Private club in Princeton, NJ operated under the TPC network with tournament pedigree. Comparable to Suburban as a private NJ club positioned around championship-level play and member events.
• Liberty National Golf Club: Premium private club in Jersey City, NJ with Manhattan skyline views. Comparable to Suburban as a premium-priced private NJ club targeting the NYC commuter market.
• Ridgewood Country Club: Private member-owned club in Paramus, NJ with championship course and multiple major tournament hostings. Directly comparable to Suburban as a private NJ country club anchored on tournament programming.
• Trump National Golf Club Bedminster: Premium private club in Bedminster, NJ host of USGA championships. Comparable to Suburban as a high-end private NJ golf club in the greater NY metro.
• Friar's Head: Elite private club on Long Island, NY known for its high-end amenities and tournament history. Comparable to Suburban as a high-pricing private club serving the broader NY/NJ metropolitan golfer.
• Baltusrol Golf Club: Elite private 36-hole club in Springfield, NJ also designed by A.W. Tillinghast and host of multiple US Opens and PGAs. Directly comparable to Suburban as a historic, Tillinghast-designed, NJ-metro private membership club.
• Winged Foot Golf Club: Elite private club in Mamaroneck, NY with two A.W. Tillinghast-designed courses and multiple major championships hosted. Comparable to Suburban as a Tillinghast heritage private club in the NY/NJ metro.
• Plainfield Country Club: Historic private club in Plainfield, NJ founded in the 1890s with Donald Ross architecture. Comparable to Suburban as a long-established, members-only NJ country club in the NY metro catchment.
• Somerset Hills Golf Club: Private club in Far Hills, NJ whose course was designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1918. Closest comparable in NJ for Tillinghast pedigree and traditional private-club operating model.
• Shackamaxon Country Club: Private club in Scotch Plains, NJ explicitly named in Suburban's own history (1962 swap offer). Directly comparable as a competing traditional private NJ club in the same metro catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/suburban-golf-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Suburban Golf Club