The Vineyards vs. Mediterra: Non-Equity or Equity Golf in Naples?
General education only — not legal, tax, financial, insurance, or other professional advice. Read the full disclaimer
Buyers weighing The Vineyards against Mediterra are usually circling the same question: how much club do I actually want to buy? Both are North Naples golf communities where membership is optional — but the clubs are built on opposite models. One is non-equity and family-owned; the other is equity and member-owned. That single difference shapes the price of entry, the exclusivity, and who each community is really for.
Fair disclosure: I help buyers across Naples golf communities and I’m not steering you toward either. This is the straight comparison I’d give you in person — what’s true, what to verify, and how to choose.
The 30-second answer
If you want an established, central North Naples community with a wide range of homes, a non-equity club you can join cheaply or skip entirely, and no capital assessments, lean The Vineyards.
If you want top-tier exclusivity — ultra-low density, two matched Tom Fazio courses, an equity (member-owned) club, and a private Gulf beach club — and the luxury price that comes with it, lean Mediterra.
Now the details.
At a glance
| The Vineyards | Mediterra | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | North Naples (Vanderbilt Beach Rd / I-75) | North Naples–Bonita Springs (Livingston Rd) |
| Size | ~1,400 acres · ~2,700 homes · ~39 enclaves | ~1,700 acres · under 930 homes · 1,000+ ac preserve |
| Density | Established, moderate density | Very low density |
| Founded | 1988 · family-owned (Procacci) | ~2000 onward |
| Club model | Non-equity (family-owned) | Equity (member-owned) |
| Golf | Two courses (McCumber North, Amick South) | Two Tom Fazio courses (matched pair) |
| Beach club | No | Yes — private Gulf-front (certain memberships) |
| Membership | Optional · Full Golf ~$150K + ~$18,725/yr; Lifestyle ~$48K + ~$8,775/yr | Optional · equity ~$250K + ~$25K/yr (capped ~450 golf members) |
| Home types | Condos, coach homes, villas, estates | Custom estates, villas, coach homes |
| Price range | ~$300Ks to $3M+ | Luxury — skews to custom estates |
(Membership figures are reported and change — always verify current pricing, availability, and any CDD or assessments with the club and for the specific home. I’ll pull them for you.)
Round 1: Equity vs. non-equity — the real fork
This is the difference that matters, so let’s make it plain.
The Vineyards is non-equity. The club is owned by the founding family, not the members. When you join, you pay a non-refundable initiation plus annual dues — and because the club is debt-free, there are no capital assessments and no food-and-beverage minimums. It’s a lower-commitment way in: roughly $150K to join for full golf, or about $48K for the lifestyle (spa/racquet/social) tier, and you can skip the club entirely and just own the home. See how the tiers work →
Mediterra is equity. The club is member-owned, so joining for golf means buying into the club itself — a substantial membership (reported around $250K initiation, ~$25K/year dues; verify current figures) in a club capped near 450 golf members. Equity models can return part of your buy-in when you leave (terms vary), and the cap protects access and exclusivity — but the entry cost and commitment are in a different league.
Neither is “better.” Non-equity is flexible and lower-risk to enter; equity is a deeper, more exclusive commitment with member ownership. If the distinction is new to you, our partner guide on bundled vs. equity vs. non-equity memberships breaks it down.
Round 2: The golf
Mediterra is the golf headliner: two Tom Fazio championship courses (South opened 2000, North 2002) — a matched Fazio pair, which very few communities anywhere can claim — for a membership capped near 450, so tee access stays easy.
The Vineyards counters with two championship courses of its own — the North (a Mark McCumber design re-worked by Kipp Schulties in 2024) and the South (a Bill Amick layout renovated in 2023) — serving roughly 1,600 members. Strong, recently renovated golf, at a far lower cost of entry.
If matched-Fazio prestige is the dream, Mediterra wins it. If you want two solid, recently updated courses without an equity buy-in, The Vineyards delivers.
Round 3: Density, homes & lifestyle
This is where the two communities feel most different.
Mediterra is deliberately low-density — under 930 homes spread across ~1,700 acres with 1,000+ acres of preserve — which buys privacy, space, and a rarefied feel. Homes skew to custom estates (with villas and coach homes too), and the lifestyle is anchored by the clubhouse, spa, racquet sports, and a private Gulf beach club with certain memberships — a genuine differentiator for an inland community.
The Vineyards is more varied and attainable — about 2,700 homes across ~39 enclaves, from mid-rise condos in the $300Ks to coach homes, villas, and custom estates above $3M. It’s an established, mature community (built mostly late-1980s to mid-2000s) with a 70,000-sq-ft clubhouse, a wellness spa, and a racquet center — but no beach club. Browse the enclave directory →
So which one?
- Choose The Vineyards for an established, central address, a wide range of home types and prices, and a non-equity club you can join affordably or skip — with no capital assessments. → The Vineyards guide · Country Club & membership
- Choose Mediterra for ultra-low density, equity-club exclusivity, a matched pair of Tom Fazio courses, and a private beach club — at the luxury price that comes with all of it. → Mediterra overview · Mediterra golf profile
Comparing more than these two? Also see The Vineyards vs. Fiddler’s Creek, or start with the Naples golf-communities buyer’s guide for the full membership-model breakdown. Or reach out and I’ll send current listings and the real all-in numbers for both.
