Feedback on Riverbend country club

[Anonymous]

We are considering joining River Bend and I’d love to hear from others who belong there. Are most from great falls or are there members from McLean? Also, will non White members stick out, and/or feel welcome? I’m trying to figure out if this will be a membership our family will use (upper elementary kids) or if it will be more of a golf thing for my spouse. Kids are interested in racquet sports. We have the sponsors etc.

[Anonymous]

I play tennis there via Interclub (belong to a different Club) and it's a beautiful Club. Good tennis program. I live in ARL and it feels very, very far from Arlington, fyi. The people I've met from tennis all live in GF.

[Anonymous]

Mostly Great Falls. LOTS of money. Don’t be surprised if most of the dads are “retired” or barely seem to work. If you will be self conscious about wealth, I don’t recommend. It’s not really a working man’s club.

[Anonymous]

The pool is really nice.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for this feedback. We are wealthy enough that the financial commitments are not an issue at all, but it's really not obvious by looking at us. I'm guessing the club won't be my thing but that's fine.

[Anonymous]

We’re members and I was totally against joining. I think country clubs are weird and I didn’t want my kids growing up thinking they’re normal.

Turns out, we have met so many wonderful people and have built an incredible community. I still think clubs are weird and I have worked very hard to ensure my kids understand how most of the world doesn’t live this way. But that doesn’t take away from the beautiful friendships we’ve created and memories we’ve had. I personally rarely go - it’s hard with work and I don’t play golf or tennis but my husband and kids really enjoy it.

I say join! You and your family will be welcomed with open arms!

[Anonymous]

I hear that it’s just a bunch of selfish blowhards with more money than sense so in that sense it’s exactly what I want in a country club!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear that it’s just a bunch of selfish blowhards with more money than sense so in that sense it’s exactly what I want in a country club!!

So no actual experience with this club. Thanks for contributing nothing to the discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re members and I was totally against joining. I think country clubs are weird and I didn’t want my kids growing up thinking they’re normal.

Turns out, we have met so many wonderful people and have built an incredible community. I still think clubs are weird and I have worked very hard to ensure my kids understand how most of the world doesn’t live this way. But that doesn’t take away from the beautiful friendships we’ve created and memories we’ve had. I personally rarely go - it’s hard with work and I don’t play golf or tennis but my husband and kids really enjoy it.

I say join! You and your family will be welcomed with open arms!

This doesn’t actually work. It’s a nice thing to say and even if your kids understand it in theory, they don’t really get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering joining River Bend and I’d love to hear from others who belong there. Are most from great falls or are there members from McLean? Also, will non White members stick out, and/or feel welcome? I’m trying to figure out if this will be a membership our family will use (upper elementary kids) or if it will be more of a golf thing for my spouse. Kids are interested in racquet sports. We have the sponsors etc.

I opened a locker and found a KKK mask hanging inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re members and I was totally against joining. I think country clubs are weird and I didn’t want my kids growing up thinking they’re normal.

Turns out, we have met so many wonderful people and have built an incredible community. I still think clubs are weird and I have worked very hard to ensure my kids understand how most of the world doesn’t live this way. But that doesn’t take away from the beautiful friendships we’ve created and memories we’ve had. I personally rarely go - it’s hard with work and I don’t play golf or tennis but my husband and kids really enjoy it.

I say join! You and your family will be welcomed with open arms!

OP here. This is good to hear and I’m very intrigued. I’m curious how you met the people you built a community with. Was it particular activities, just hanging out at the pool, the happy hours, or something I’m missing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering joining River Bend and I’d love to hear from others who belong there. Are most from great falls or are there members from McLean? Also, will non White members stick out, and/or feel welcome? I’m trying to figure out if this will be a membership our family will use (upper elementary kids) or if it will be more of a golf thing for my spouse. Kids are interested in racquet sports. We have the sponsors etc.

I opened a locker and found a KKK mask hanging inside.

Such ignorance