Joe Nardo has seen private clubs from every angle. He's been a long-time member, served on club leadership, and spent a stretch as president of a golf club.
When he relocated from New York to Florida, he knew what he wanted out of a membership. He also knew, after years in that world, how often clubs fall short of delivering it.
What he found at The Preserve at Ironhorse was the perfect fit.
What You Can't See From the Outside
"You don't really appreciate this club until you join it. That's when you see things that just don't make it into a brochure," Joe says.
He sees how staff greet members by name. He explains how the ownership structure, led by a single private owner, creates a consistency he hadn't seen at other clubs.
"It's the only club I've seen in a long time that isn't run by committees. The owner has the wisdom to understand what a club should be, and he does exactly what the members love," he says.
At larger clubs, Joe watched competing agendas slow decisions and complicate the member experience. At The Preserve, "you don't feel the atmosphere the club creates until you're in it. And it's just a wonderful place to be."
Why He Left His Previous Club
Joe's previous club in Florida was, by most measures, a solid one. It had a good course, great staff, quality food, and well-maintained facilities. But after four or five years, he needed something different.
"You join a club because your leisure time is valuable, and you don't want to waste it. You don't want to plan a week in advance what you might want to do next Saturday," he shares.
At his last club, a spontaneous round wasn't really an option. Playing outside of organized events meant booking a tee time a week out, and the slot might not open until mid-afternoon.
Here, Joe says, "Saturday morning, if I feel like playing golf, I just go."
He also dealt with regular assessments. Membership categories weren't flexible, requiring a family membership even when only one person planned to use the club.
"It comes down to two things: can you afford it, and can you justify it? I just couldn't justify it anymore," he says.
At The Preserve, the initiation fee and annual dues are set. The owner has funded improvements, the Rees Jones redesign of the course among them, without passing costs to members.
Life at The Preserve
Joe plays three times a week. He has lunch at the club three or four times a week. He brings guests. He's developed real friendships with members and, by now, knows most of them by name.
"I didn't give up anything. The golf course I play on now is just as good. The club is just as good, and I have a lot more benefits," he shares.
Above all, Joe Nardo appreciates the consistency of The Preserve’s experience.
"The day-to-day activity is always consistent. You know what to expect. And because the membership is limited, they can control things a lot better."
A Member Who has Seen it All
"When people find out this club exists, they'll run to the door."
Joe did it himself, and once he made the move and his friends heard about it, they quickly followed.
If you're thinking about private clubs in the West Palm Beach area, or if you've spent time at a larger club and found yourself wondering if there's a better fit, Joe's message is clear:
