Lantana Golf Club to become private facility

Lantana Golf Club will soon be a little more exclusive.

Beginning Jan. 1, the club will become a private facility, meaning only members or guests of members will be allowed to play.

Currently, the club is considered a semiprivate club, meaning the public is still welcome.

“This has been a goal for us,” said general manager Stephen Phillips. “This is something we have promised our members. It is quite an honor to achieve this goal as it is something we’ve strived for since we announced the intention to go private in 2003. Our current members are also thrilled about this opportunity.”

Lantana achieved private status by reaching its goal of 500 members, Phillips said.

“It will benefit our members to know that when they walk through the door, they’ll be surrounded by fellow members,” Phillips said. “They’ll have exclusive access to our course, and one of the many benefits of that is not having the added wear and tear on the course. Our members have a vested interest in this, and they want to take care of it.”

The initiation fee will remain $10,000 with full golf dues of $325 per month.

Phillips said Lantana’s goal is to reach 600 members, at which point it would become a full course and would implement a waiting list. He said the club has 495 members now, and he expects it to reach 600 members within the next year and a half.

The club was named one of Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses in 2008.

Lantana is a meticulously-planned Hill Country-themed course. With its rolling green fairways, white sand bunkers and ponds, the golf club is characterized by its unique architecture and natural setting.

Designed by the world-renowned team of Jay and Carter Morrish, which has projects worldwide in Scotland, Spain, Australia, Canada and Japan, the course maximizes the wooded terrain and natural beauty of the land.

At 7,147 yards long from the championship tee boxes, it was designed to challenge the expert player, though it's also playable for the average golfer.

The course’s signature hole is No. 15, which features an island green encircled by water and surrounded by a canopy of trees, sloping 165 yards downhill from the back tee. The Par 3 hole plays downwind for most of the year, and a large step runs through the center of the green, creating a difficult obstruction.

Along with tournaments and clinics, the club includes a 27,000-square-foot clubhouse with private locker rooms, a fully stocked golf shop, 2,200-square-foot fitness center and casual dining at the Lantana Grill. The club is also fully staffed to accept reservations for special events.