If you are a member of a country club…

[Anonymous]

Op here - part of what is driving this is that the country club is a 5 min drive from our home. The closest pool or tennis clubs is 12-15 drive, during weekday afternoons. It would be the closest “restaurant “ by a similar drive.

It would be very convenient to do swimming and tennis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a boat. There are a lot of marinas with a similar club feel with pools and activities. Plus you get to change the scenery.

Hahah... talk about a bad financial investment!

As opposed to spending 50k+ on a country club ? We're not talking about investment strategies here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here - part of what is driving this is that the country club is a 5 min drive from our home. The closest pool or tennis clubs is 12-15 drive, during weekday afternoons. It would be the closest “restaurant “ by a similar drive.

It would be very convenient to do swimming and tennis.

Are you in CCMD? If so, definitely do CCRA over a club. I promise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here - part of what is driving this is that the country club is a 5 min drive from our home. The closest pool or tennis clubs is 12-15 drive, during weekday afternoons. It would be the closest “restaurant “ by a similar drive.

It would be very convenient to do swimming and tennis.

Do a cost comparison with the pool/tennis club -- 12 -15 mins is very close, certainly by DMV standards. Like I mentioned in a PP, my grandparents had us eating at the CC because they had to pay for food anyway; not much reason beyond that to eat there unless you are spending the day there for a tournament or something and you are super hungry or want to eat/socialize with the folks you were playing with all day. I'm glad another PP chimed in about the exorbitant restaurant fees and how they didn't really use them so that I'm not the only one saying that. I wouldn't think of the CC as a "restaurant." I get why you are thinking of it that way, but I'd try to take our word for it that you really don't want to think of it that way.

So ... do the cost comparison, and then figure out if being 10 mins closer and having golf you definitely won't use and an outrageously expensive "restaurant" that you won't use as much as you think you will are worth it. Sure, there are social aspects too, and not being a member of a CC here in the DMV myself at the moment I can't comment too much on that -- but at least one PP did say they find the social aspect of things at the pool/tennis clubs better. That will just kind of depend on who you are. But the fact that you don't play golf can limit your social life at a CC too, so be aware of that.

[svjeta]

Anonymous wrote:What ages do you think your kids enjoyed it the most? Or is it more for the adults?

We are thinking of joining one, kids are 6 and 10 and wondering how much they will use/enjoy it. DH and I are not golfers, we would be joining to be able to go as a family to the pool, tennis, etc. We would also like to host our friends there for dinner/drinks with their same-age kids.

I guess I am also wondering if kids will want to take their friends as they become tweens/teens.

I've never been to one, sorry

[Anonymous]

The younger the better. Ours kids (tweens and teens) still go but we went way more when they were little. But we got our teens a private dining room for they and a group of friends to have dinner before prom last year and that was fun and they’d do it again. Too bad that your CC doesn’t have a social membership that doesn’t include golf - so much cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Your kids are the perfect age to join a CC. Good ages to participate in swim team and tennis lessons/clinic. Your kids will likely make friends, but totally fine to bring guests fairly often as well. Our club has excellent food and events and a younger membership...so it's just fun for our entire family and we use it year round. If you have the money to comfortably join, do it! Its a really nice lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Our kids a year older than yours. We are not in the club because we don't any of the sports. Many of their classmates are (convenience because we also live 5 minutes away). I can tell you early in age, it was probably worth it for the lessons, all kids became friends and did the same sports at the same times. We probably would have joined except we didn't live here when the kids were super young. Now, the kids are picking their own friends who aren't in the club like my kids, and the parents are trying very hard to get the same group of kids together to keep socializing at the club.

[Anonymous]

When we joined our local club, my kids were around the same age as yours, 6 and 10, and they absolutely loved it. The pool was a big hit with both of them; they couldn't get enough of the water, especially during the summer. The tennis lessons were also a great addition. My 10-year-old particularly enjoyed picking up a new sport and made quite a few friends in the process.

As they grew into tweens and teens, the club continued to be a favorite spot. It gave them a sense of independence, being able to invite friends over for a swim or a casual tennis match. We've hosted numerous dinners and gatherings there too, and it's always been a wonderful experience, not just for us but also for our friends and their kids.

My partner and I aren't golfers either, but we've found so much value in the other amenities the club offers. It's been a fantastic place for the whole family to relax, play, and socialize. I'd say, go for it. It's been such a positive addition to our family life.