I too am just getting into the sport and find the fees for the clubs a little over-bearing. But I also understand why they cost as much as they do. The club closest to me pro-rates by month and requires you to become a member of the AMA, so joining now would cost me $58 for the AMA membership and then $35 or so for the club costs. And then for next year the club is $60 and AMA again is $58 I believe. The club then offers free lessons and a really nice field to fly at with all the buddies a guy could ask for. But yes, the fees are kind of hard to over look. I'm going to put the money out for the fees just because I just spent $300 on my plane and Acces. and I still have more to buy. And I would hate to find a big field and try to fly solo and slam it into the ground. I figure, if I do the club thing for a couple years, and then decide I don't want to pay the dues, at least by then I will have learned how to fly, so I could find a big field that permits flying and then fly bymyself.

Just a couple options. Knowing me though, I'll be part of the group for a couple years and then won't be able to part with the friends I'll make.