Country Clubs...I want facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are in public school and we know a number of families that beling to country clubs, especially Congressional.

I could never understand this - why put your kids in classes with 30+ kids just so you can have the congressional membership - selfish.......

[Anonymous]

Silly response. For all you know they prefer public school for some reason. Or maybe they were rejected from private. Or maybe some public schools - TJ for example -- are BETTER than private. Or maybe they can't afford both but their children have serious tennis or golf talent potential. Not for you to judge how people spend their money or time.

[Anonymous]

Or came in as legacy because parents were members for not that much more than your neighborhood pool.

[Anonymous]

I have zero experience with country clubs and don't know anyone who has ever belonged to one. Is there diversity? Are there any black people who are members? Are you allowed to bring people who are NOT members there, as guests, like if you want to play tennis with your friend from out of town?

[Anonymous]

One does not ask to become a member of Burning Tree; they ask you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have zero experience with country clubs and don't know anyone who has ever belonged to one. Is there diversity? Are there any black people who are members? Are you allowed to bring people who are NOT members there, as guests, like if you want to play tennis with your friend from out of town?

\

yes yes and yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband an I do very well financially. Maybe because I grew up middle class, I just can't imagine investing so much in a country club. We've been guests at all of the local clubs, as a lot of colleagues belong to various clubs. Most are nice but I just don't get it.... I am just as happy at the community pool, neighborhood tennis courts and picnicking at Rock Creek park. I feel uneasy at places that exclude others and segregate by keeping less financially secure people out. Just my opinion.

I'm with you (though maybe my family was a little more comfortably off -- dad was an MD), but it's just not our thing at all and I've never been able to figure out the appeal to our friends who are members. Quite honestly, the sense of exclusivity kind of makes me cringe. I already feel like our kids live in a bubble of privilege; why would I want to enhance their sense of unreality? DH and I are both tennis players; we played in college and are still pretty good. Often someone will ask us where we play and they clearly expect to hear the name of a club, so it's kind of fun to hear their reaction when we say, "Oh, you know there are some pretty good courts at the local park."

Real country club members just laugh and laugh at those kind of lame jokes. NOKD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is everyone white at these places?

Mandatory skin bleaching -- everyone gets used to it after awhile. PS on site to help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, somewhere in the string someone mentioned networking at Country Clubs as a possible reason for joining. I am not sure if that was you or not but I thought I would respond. I grew up around here but was not a member of a club. I have nothing against CCs. Nonetheless, I do not believe that not joining a club impacted my parents professionally and I do not believe it has impacted me either. I think that networking opportunities exist in many places including country clubs but I don't think CC are necessary for networking. Maybe it is because DC was originally a Company town and the company was government. Maybe it is because there are a lot of clubs so there isn't "one" club that is the best. Some might say the best club is Congressional but probably not if you live in McLean and work in the IT sector in Virginia. If you are high brass military or associated with that in some way, it is probably Army-Navy. The point I am making is that whether you join a club or not, I would not justify the decision financially on the basis that you will make tons of important professional connections at the club. Again, not sure if that was OP's comment. FWIW, I will give my view point. Grew up in Bethesda and I am a second generation lawyer who has worked in top ten DC firms. In my childhood social circle and in my professional career, country club membership was not a must. I had more lunches at the Cosmos Club and University Club than at Country Clubs. Notably, my family is not into golf.

i cannot believe that the person who wrote this post is a college graduate, let alone a lawyer. Holy carp.

Sounds like a lawyer to me. It sort of goes around an around in circles, but doen't say much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silly response. For all you know they prefer public school for some reason. Or maybe they were rejected from private. Or maybe some public schools - TJ for example -- are BETTER than private. Or maybe they can't afford both but their children have serious tennis or golf talent potential. Not for you to judge how people spend their money or time.

Yep, probably has so much golf or tennis talent that would warrant a 120k membership vs an amazing private school.....makes sense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or came in as legacy because parents were members for not that much more than your neighborhood pool.

Now come on - there is no way monthly dues at congressional are less or the same as a local pool membership - really out of touch!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or came in as legacy because parents were members for not that much more than your neighborhood pool.

Now come on - there is no way monthly dues at congressional are less or the same as a local pool membership - really out of touch!

I'm a legacy member at Congressional and my kids do go to public schools. I value public education and that is why our kids go to public schools. As for the financial questions related to membership: our dues are the same whether we are accepted at Congressional as a new member or if we are legacy members. The considerable financial difference between the two is the difference in the initiation fee to join the club; the new member initiation fee is $100,000 more than the legacy fee. However, even as a legacy member with the reduced initiation fee, this initiation fee is MUCH more than a neighborhood pool.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP, legacy member at Congressional. I neglected to answer the question about monthly dues in comparison to neighborhood pool dues. They are considerably more than I would expect the typical neighborhood pool to cost. Plus, at Congressional (as it is at many private clubs), you have annual food minimums that you must spend AND anytime you bring a guest for anything (golf, tennis, swimming, etc.) you pay a lot in guest fees.

[Anonymous]

What is legacy initiation fee at Congressional?

[Anonymous]

DC social scene is Chevy Chase Club, Congressional, Columbia. Thats its. No one gives a shit about any other club. The REASON people dont belong to those three are as follows. Dont have connections, or the money.

Woodmont is so gaudy with its new club house its insane. The management is terrible. Lakewood is decent but in a lot of debt and has no money to update the place

Bethesda Country Club is nice but again you belong there because you cant afford anything better. Country clubs are divided among economic status.

You belong to Chevy Chase Club you have bragging rights. A VERY difficult membership process and most do not make it. They do not care about money or who you are. They want to know how you are connected. Even the staff who work at Chevy made it in life. Most have come from very nice clubs around the world just to work at Chevy. The caliber of the staff down to the janitor is excellent.