Spring Ridge Club Unveils Explorer Membership Option

By: Destination Club News
Date: December 29, 2006

Following "strong research" into several similar markets, Pennsylvania's Spring Ridge Club has created a new membership model called the Explorer Membership, designed specifically for anglers who do not believe that they could justify the purchase of a full unlimited usage membership.

"We have studied the private club marketplace, and in the 'destination club' category (which most closely matches ours), all successful clubs have been found to offer from three to eight different categories of membership and usage plans," writes the club. "In fact, one of the founders of Exclusive Resorts, one of the most successful destination clubs, has said that the multiple-level usage plan strategy is one of the keys to their success."

The club's new Explorer Membership will allow members 12 "beat-days" per year with no more than four per quarter. Over the past months, the Spring Ridge Club has selectively tested the option and have already sold five of these memberships, primarily to fishermen who had rejected purchasing a full membership, including two members from Chicago who had originally believed that they would be too far away from Spruce Creek.

"We have found that by far, the biggest deterrent to membership is when a potential member doesn't feel he/she will use the club enough to justify the initiation fee for unlimited usage of our facilities," the club writes. "The Explorer Membership speaks directly to those people."

New sales have also continued for the club's full membership category as the club has sold five new Conservation Memberships in the same time period.

Most destination clubs give members access to a collection of luxury vacation properties around the world, adding new residences to the portfolio as new members join. The Spring Ridge Club gives members exclusive access to fishing streams, bringing new water into the club's collection as new members join.

The emergence of niche clubs like Spring Ridge Club and others demonstrates the continued interest in the destination club concept. If you are currently considering joining a destination club or would like to learn more about the benefits and risks of membership, request a complimentary copy of our Destination Club Guide.