There is a growing tension between private-club business models and homeowners in golf-course communities, especially where mandatory memberships were embedded in original development covenants: According to the October 16, 2026 CBS Colorado article, residents in the Blackstone community are challenging a covenant that requires homeowners to maintain a social membership at the country club and pay monthly dues. Some homeowners reportedly stopped paying, others were considering it, and residents had circulated a petition opposing the mandatory memberships. The article states that dues had increased significantly over time, leading some homeowners to argue they were being “held hostage” by the arrangement.
Key points from the article include:
- Approximately 900 homeowners are subject to covenants requiring club membership.
- Blackstone Country Club is operated by Invited Clubs.
- Monthly membership charges reportedly rose from just over $100 per month for some original purchasers to roughly $245 per month.
- Residents expressed concern that the governing documents do not place a fixed cap on future dues increases.
There was also a related legislative issue in Colorado in 2026. A bill seeking to prohibit new mandatory club membership covenants in residential communities was introduced but ultimately defeated in committee. Industry groups, including the NGCOA, argued that mandatory memberships are an important part of the financial structure of many private club communities.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/aurora-homeowners-rebel-mandatory-country-club-dues/
