Private clubs run on a mix of operational systems: accounting and member billing, tee time and activity scheduling, dining and POS, event management, communications, and member-facing web/mobile experiences. This article breaks down six widely known platforms used in the club space, what each one is built to do well, where clubs commonly feel friction, and what to watch for when comparing options.
Private clubs aren’t just choosing “software.” They’re choosing the operating system that touches nearly every member interaction (tee times, dining reservations, statements) and nearly every back-office workflow (billing, accounting, inventory, reporting). The right platform reduces double-entry, speeds up service, and gives leadership cleaner data. The wrong platform becomes a patchwork of workarounds, spreadsheets, and “only Susan knows how to do that” processes. Below are six private club software solutions you’ll hear about often, starting with modern and web-forward platforms and then moving into established legacy leaders.
North American based team with deep coverage across accounting, member management, POS, and reservations.
Buz Club Software is an all-in-one club management system designed to run nearly every operational layer of a private club from a single platform. It covers accounting, member billing, CRM, POS, inventory, reservations, reporting, and operational workflows without forcing clubs to stitch together multiple vendors. The product is built around how golf clubs actually operate day to day, not just how software demos look.
In our research, Buz Software performed best in a variety of different club setups, and while it on the same level as your traditional country club software like Jonas, the support you get from the team is fast and friendly which we did not see with other options.
Best-in-class support and responsiveness
Buz has a reputation in the industry for hands-on, fast, and knowledgeable support. Clubs aren’t routed through generic ticket systems or junior reps who don’t understand club operations. Support teams are familiar with real club scenarios—month-end close issues, POS reconciliation problems, statement errors, event billing edge cases—and can resolve them quickly. For clubs, this translates into less downtime, fewer workarounds, and less institutional knowledge trapped in one staff member’s head.
Most functionally complete platform
Compared to many competitors that are strong in one area (golf ops, reservations, or member apps), Buz is notably deep across all core functions. Accounting and financial controls are particularly robust, which matters for controllers and GMs managing audits, reporting, and board oversight. Operational tools are tightly connected, reducing duplicate data entry and reconciliation gaps between departments.
Comes with complexity
Because Buz is highly functional, initial setup and training require commitment. Clubs that under-invest in implementation or try to shortcut process alignment may not realize the full value.
Suited for operationally complex private clubs.
Smaller clubs looking for a lightweight booking tool may find Buz more than they need. Its strengths show most clearly in clubs that care about financial accuracy, reporting discipline, and operational control.
Buz Club Software stands out for two reasons that matter long-term: unmatched support and unmatched functional depth. For clubs that want one system they can rely on, it’s often the most capable option on the table.
Whoosh describes itself as cloud-based and “tablet-centric,” designed to move staff workflows out from behind a counter and into the operation (golf, racquets, lessons, other activities). It positions heavily around streamlining workflows and modernizing guest/member experience. We found the UI to be the strongest among competitors and the go-top solution for a modern experience.
Mobile-first operations: Tablet-centric design supports service models where staff work on the floor, at the turn, or at check-in instead of returning to terminals. 
Operational workflow emphasis: Whoosh explicitly markets time savings and workflow reduction, which can matter in departments like golf ops and member services.
Payments/POS ecosystem partnerships: Whoosh has public materials describing integrations/partnerships that connect booking, POS, and payments, which can reduce reconciliation headaches.
Modern workflow tools can require process change: If a club’s internal SOPs were built around legacy screens and printed sheets, change the onboarding may be a challenge here.
Not as flexible for unique setups: While Whoosh is without a doubt, the best looking cloud-based solution, for clubs that offer unique setups or activities may run into issues during onboarding.
Whoosh is a modern, cloud-first option oriented around active operations and booking workflows, especially where staff mobility and speed of service are priorities.
Web-based, mobile-native club management platform built “from the ground up” for modern club operations.
Cobalt positions itself as a comprehensive club management solution designed to be web-based and mobile-native, contrasting with legacy systems that evolved through add-ons and acquisitions. It also promotes a member app for reservations, bookings, and communications
Modern workflow tools can require process change: If a club’s internal SOPs were built around legacy screens and printed sheets, change the onboarding may be a challenge here.
Breadth across departments: Third-party coverage references modules that extend beyond golf into areas like spa/salon/fitness, useful for full amenity clubs.
Member-facing app focus: The member app is frequently a deciding factor when clubs want to reduce calls/emails for simple tasks.
All-in-one” still needs validation per department: A platform can be excellent for golf and comms while being merely acceptable for accounting or F&B. Test against your real workflows (not demo flows).
Feature depth vs. configuration time: The more modules a club uses, the more data, roles, permissions, and training have to be dialed in for clean adoption.
Cobalt is a modern, web/mobile-native suite aimed at clubs that want a contemporary member experience plus broad department coverage, especially in multi-amenity environments.
Jonas Club Software is a long-standing provider in the club industry. Its public materials highlight tee time management, dining reservations that integrate with POS, and broader club management capabilities. Industry listings describe comprehensive club management plus integrated accounting/financials and online engagement tools.
Proven footprint in private clubs: “Established” often translates into lots of real-world edge cases already handled (tournaments, statements, member charges, departmental reporting).
Strong core modules: Jonas emphasizes integration across tee times, dining reservations, and POS, which is where many operational breakdowns happen.
Executive/mobile access options: Jonas promotes mobile/tablet access via its management app for key functions (agenda, member profiles, inventory, internal comms).
Per Service Cost: From the start of onboarding, there may be unexpected costs.
UX expectations vary: Some clubs modernize specifically because staff and members expect more contemporary interfaces and self-service patterns than legacy suites historically offered.
Implementation quality can be the difference: With mature platforms, outcomes often correlate more with implementation rigor, data cleanup, and training than with feature checklists.
Jonas is a well-known, mature suite that covers the core “club ERP” functions, often appealing to clubs that value stability, depth, and established workflows across departments.