Boynton Beach and Delray Beach Golf Communities: Equity vs Non-Equity Clubs Explained
By Brian Perry, Perry Home Solutions of Keller Williams Innovations. Updated Nov 10, 2026.
TL;DR: Boynton Beach and Delray Beach have many golf and country club communities, and they do not all work the same way. In an equity club, members own the club, pay an equity contribution, and may get part of it back when they sell. In a non-equity club, you pay to use the club but own none of it. Before you buy or list, find out which kind it is, whether membership is mandatory, and what the refund rules say.
Key takeaways
- Equity means members own the club. Non-equity means someone else owns it and you pay to use it.
- "Mandatory membership" means every home buyer joins. It says nothing about whether the club is equity.
- What a Boynton or Delray seller gets back depends on the club's refund and transfer rules, not the home price.
- Club costs sit on top of HOA fees. Get the current fee sheet in writing.
- Ask the 5 questions below before you write or accept an offer.
Selling a home in a Boynton or Delray club community? Get my free seller net sheet to see what you would walk away with after club refunds and fees.
Equity vs non-equity golf clubs: what is the difference?
An equity club is owned by its members. When you join, you pay an equity contribution, and the bylaws set what happens to it when you leave. A non-equity club is owned by someone else, such as a developer or a company. You pay initiation and dues for the right to use it.
Neither one is better across the board. It depends on how long you plan to stay, how often you play, and what the club's refund rules say.
Boynton Beach golf communities
Boynton Beach has both all-age and 55+ club communities. Hunters Run is a mandatory membership community. Every member keeps at least a Social membership and can upgrade to Racquet Sports or Golf each fiscal year. Golf members get 54 holes on three courses. The initiation fee is $150,000, effective May 2, 2026. The 2025 to 2026 schedule also lists a $1,000 capital contribution and a $2,500 administrative fee. All three are non-refundable.
Aberdeen Golf and Country Club, at 8251 Aberdeen Drive west of the city, is also mandatory. All new residents join, choosing Golf, Tennis or Social. The private club has an 18-hole Jim Fazio course. For the fiscal year ending Nov 30, 2026, the one-time joining fee is $100,000 for Golf, $93,000 for Tennis and $90,500 for Social, due at closing. Only $100 of equity comes back when you sell, so treat the fee as a cost, not an investment. Aberdeen is not all 55+. Some villages are 55+ and others are open to all ages, so check the exact village with the property owners association. Aberdeen East is a separate 55+ section where club membership is not required.
Mandatory does not tell you whether a club is equity. Ask each club how it is structured and what comes back to you at sale.
See my Boynton Beach community guide for more on the area.
Delray Beach country club homes for sale: what to check
Buyers search for Delray club communities by name, and they differ a lot:
- Mizner Country Club is mandatory. Every homeowner joins, and each applicant goes through board approval.
- Gleneagles Country Club is mandatory, with Social, Golf, Tennis and Full levels. New member capital contributions run $110,000 to $140,000.
- Seagate Country Club at The Hamlet does not require club membership to live there.
- Boca Delray Golf and Country Club is a 55+ community with an 18-hole course. Published club fee guides list membership as optional and non-equity. Confirm with the club.
In every one, ask whether the club is equity or non-equity, whether membership is mandatory, and what the refund rules are. Compare clubs on those terms, not just the courses.
See my Delray Beach community guide. Many club communities here are age-restricted, so my guide to 55+ communities in Palm Beach County is worth a look too. Selling in one? Here is how 55+ buyer approval works.
What does it cost to join a golf community in Boynton or Delray?
On top of the home price, a buyer can face some mix of these:
- An equity contribution or initiation fee. At the clubs above it runs from $90,500 to $150,000.
- Annual dues. At Hunters Run, the 2025 to 2026 schedule lists dues of $22,720 for Social to $25,820 for Golf.
- Capital contributions or assessments. Hunters Run lists monthly assessments for set projects, such as its racquet complex.
- A food and beverage minimum, if the club has one. Hunters Run's 2025 to 2026 schedule lists $1,400 a year for a family.
- HOA or condo fees, which are separate from the club.
I am listing the latest published figures as of November 2026. They are not guaranteed, and they can change at any time. Confirm current fees directly with the club before you decide.
Florida's estoppel certificate shows whether a capital contribution, resale fee, or transfer fee is due on the sale. That is one place these costs show up in writing.
What does a seller get back from an equity membership?
Often less than people expect. At Aberdeen, $100 comes back. At Hunters Run, the initiation is non-refundable. Other clubs set their own refund and transfer rules in the bylaws, so read them before you price your home.
If your membership transfers with the home, put it in the listing. It can be a real selling point.
If you are selling one home and buying another at the same time, here is how to handle both in Palm Beach County.
5 questions to ask any club before you buy or list
- Is this club equity or non-equity?
- What is the current contribution or initiation for each membership level?
- What does a seller get back, and when is it paid?
- Is there a waitlist, and can the membership transfer with the home?
- Are any capital projects or assessments planned?
Want your real numbers before you list? Get my free seller net sheet. I will factor in your club's refund and transfer rules.
FAQ
Are Boynton Beach golf communities equity or non-equity? Both kinds exist. Ask each club's membership office, and read the bylaws.
Can I buy a home in a mandatory club and skip the membership? No. In a mandatory club, buying the home means joining the club.
Where do I find a Delray or Boynton club's fees? Ask the club's membership office for the current fee sheet and bylaws. Fees change, so check the date.
Is Aberdeen in Boynton Beach a 55+ community? Only part of it. Some villages are 55+ and others are open to all ages, so check the exact village before you buy.
Does a non-equity club cost less? Not always. Compare initiation, dues, and assessments side by side for the clubs you are considering.
What is the one question you wish you had asked before joining a club? Tell me in the comments or call me at 561-880-5696.