{"id":446907,"date":"2026-01-30T07:44:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T07:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/446907\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T07:44:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T07:44:10","slug":"michael-kim-shares-how-country-club-memberships-work-for-pga-tour-pros-and-it-might-surprise-you-australian-golf-digest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/446907\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Kim shares how country club memberships work for PGA Tour pros \u2013 and it might surprise you \u2013 Australian Golf Digest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many people were surprised by PGA Tour rookie Marco Penge revealing on Wednesday that a couple of Florida golf clubs \u201cturned him away\u201d<\/a> after moving to the US in the offseason. Michael Kim was not one of those people.<\/p>\n

The PGA Tour vet and Golf Twitter sage commented on the Penge situation, revealing how country club memberships for tour pros really work.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Video emerges of Rory McIlroy mocking rival\u2019s pre-shot routine<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cMost private clubs are very open to hosting pros once or twice but becoming a member is a different story,\u201d Kim wrote on X.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsually we need to know a few non pro members to start the process. We are better off than a random sales guy but it\u2019s not as easy as some might think. Unless you\u2019re REALLY famous. Then it\u2019s different obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most private clubs are very open to hosting pros once or twice but becoming a member is a different story.
Usually we need to know a few non pro members to start the process. We are better off than a random sales guy but it\u2019s not as easy as some might think.
Unless you\u2019re REALLY\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/D7SMfzwvfW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) January 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Interesting. For the record, Penge might not be REALLY famous (yet), but he\u2019s certainly REALLY good. After a breakout season in which he won three times on the DP World Tour card, the 27-year-old Englishman earned his PGA Tour card and moved all the way up to No.30 in the Official World Golf Ranking.<\/p>\n

Kim continued by saying tour pros have an edge over regular working stiffs when it comes to joining a club, but that status doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re necessarily a shoe-in.<\/p>\n

Nothing wrong with being a sales guy. Just saying that it\u2019s going to be easier for me to get in to the club than that person most likely haha<\/p>\n

Also I\u2019m not even close to that famous line. That line is very short<\/p>\n

\u2014 Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) January 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

And it doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re exempt from paying dues, either. No matter who you are, according to Kim.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s def paying dues in most of those<\/p>\n

\u2014 Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) January 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Each course has different policies. Some have pro discounts some do not. I think most these days want full dues<\/p>\n

\u2014 Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) January 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Kim is currently No.42 in the world and a winner on both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. But he knows what he needs to do to get to that next level.<\/p>\n

Haha no. I\u2019m talking like major winners only<\/p>\n

\u2014 Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) January 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

So, there you go. Win a major and you can probably join whatever club you like. Go get \u2019em, Michael. And Marco.<\/p>\n