Club Memberships & Dues at Tahoe-Truckee Communities, Explained
Club memberships across the Tahoe-Truckee communities — Martis Camp, Lahontan, Schaffer’s Mill, Clear Creek Tahoe, Gray’s Crossing and Old Greenwood — share a common structure even though their specific terms differ. In almost every case the model combines an initiation deposit to join, annual dues to operate the amenities, sometimes membership tiers, a transfer mechanism at resale, and a rule on whether membership is mandatory or optional. This guide explains that structure so you know what to ask. It intentionally does not quote dollar figures: initiation and dues are private and change over time, and current amounts must be confirmed with each club.
What are the parts of a club-membership structure?
Whichever community you are considering, the membership arrangement usually breaks down into the same components:
- Initiation deposit / membership contribution — a one-time amount paid to join the club. Depending on the club, part of it may be refundable under defined conditions, or it may be non-refundable.
- Annual dues — recurring charges that fund the operation and upkeep of the amenities (course, clubhouse, dining, fitness, recreation).
- Membership categories or tiers — some clubs offer more than one level, such as a full golf membership versus a sports or social membership, each with different access and cost.
- Transfer mechanism at sale — the rule for how membership passes to a new owner when the home is sold, and how any refundable portion of a deposit is handled.
- Mandatory vs. optional membership — whether joining the club is required with ownership, bundled, or genuinely optional.
Understanding these five pieces — and getting the current specifics for each from the club — is how you accurately compare the true cost of ownership across communities.
How do the membership models compare across communities?
The table below compares the model, not the numbers. It shows the kinds of questions to resolve for each community; the actual figures and current rules must be confirmed directly with each club, because they are private and change.
| Community | Membership focus | Model questions to confirm with the club |
|---|---|---|
| Martis Camp | Golf + extensive family recreation + ski access | Is membership required? Initiation & dues? Transfer terms at resale? |
| Lahontan | Weiskopf golf + outdoor recreation | Membership requirement? Categories/tiers? Current dues & transfer rule? |
| Schaffer’s Mill | Golf + family amenities | Mandatory or optional? Initiation, dues, and transfer at sale? |
| Clear Creek Tahoe | Championship golf + wellness (Nevada side) | Membership structure, tiers, dues, and transfer terms? |
| Gray’s Crossing / Old Greenwood | Golf via Tahoe Mountain Club amenities | Which membership applies, what it includes, dues & transfer? |
Why don't specific dues and initiation figures appear here?
Club initiation deposits and annual dues are set privately by each club and are revised over time. Publishing a specific number would be misleading the moment it changes, and it could differ by membership category or by the terms in effect when you actually join. For that reason, the responsible approach — and the one we take with clients — is to describe the structure clearly and then obtain the current, written figures from the club as part of due diligence. Treat any secondhand dollar amount you see elsewhere as unverified until the club confirms it.
How does membership transfer when a home is sold?
Because a club membership is tied to the community, resale involves a transfer step in addition to the real-estate closing. Each club sets its own rules for how membership passes to the buyer, whether the buyer must qualify or pay a current initiation, and how any refundable portion of the seller’s original deposit is treated. These mechanics can materially affect both sides of a transaction, so they should be understood before you list or make an offer — not discovered at closing.
What should buyers verify before making an offer?
- Is club membership mandatory or optional in this community?
- What category of membership fits how you’ll actually use the club?
- What are the current initiation deposit and annual dues, in writing?
- How does membership transfer at resale, and is any deposit refundable?
- Are dues subject to assessments or scheduled changes you should plan for?
Getting clear, written answers to these questions is the single most important piece of due diligence unique to club communities — and it’s where an agent who knows the communities earns their keep.
Get the current figures the right way
Trinkie Watson of Chase International — 40+ years in the Lake Tahoe and Truckee market, 100+ lakefront transactions, and licensed in both California and Nevada — helps buyers obtain the current, verified membership terms for each community and factor the full cost of ownership into their decision, rather than relying on outdated or secondhand numbers. Start with the private club communities overview and the broader communities guide, browse the Martis Camp / Schaffer’s Mill / Lahontan and Gray’s Crossing / Old Greenwood community pages, or get in touch.