Country Club Foodand Beverage Minimum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People still belong to country clubs? Wow.

Is this a serious question?

[Anonymous]

Don't belong to one, but a quarterly minimum wouldn't bother me. However it would be nice if alcohol counted, as its easy to hang at the bar every once in a while or order a bottle of wine, but it might be more challenging during certain quarters to eat there enough to spend the minimum just on food.

I wish our neighborhood pool club had bar service! I could handle a minimum. Although our life guards are glad we don't have alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People still belong to country clubs? Wow.

Is this a serious question?

country clubs are a dying breed and most have serious financial issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People still belong to country clubs? Wow.

Is this a serious question?

country clubs are a dying breed and most have serious financial issues.

You don't get out much do you? If you did, you would see area clubs packed with families and children, especially during the summer.
As to financial issues, clubs suffered the same fate as many businesses during the economic downturn. Even in this lackluster "recovery", our is back to a waiting list.

[Anonymous]

$900 per year F&B minimum, alcohol does not count
Club is not in DC area
Full service CC
The minimum is easy to meet our kids (11 and 16) meet it based on their pool snacks and the golf course beverage cart.

[Anonymous]

$425 a year
beverages, whether alcoholic or not, do not count.
closer to Baltimore than DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People still belong to country clubs? Wow.

Is this a serious question?

country clubs are a dying breed and most have serious financial issues.

You don't get out much do you? If you did, you would see area clubs packed with families and children, especially during the summer.
As to financial issues, clubs suffered the same fate as many businesses during the economic downturn. Even in this lackluster "recovery", our is back to a waiting list.

That is exactly the issue, they are packed because the standards have dropped, both the cost, the financing options and who gets in. If you think it is a pirivilage to be a meember now you have been sold a bill of goods. wiat lists do not exist anymore. who wants to go to a packed pool that you pay a lot for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our club does not currently have a F & B minimum but is proposing one next year. Oddly alcohol purchases would not apply to the minimum. I am trying to do a bit of research on other clubs in the area so we can go back to management with some comps. Please list the following:

Club name
Food and Beverage Minimum and Period (for example $150 quarterly), etc.
Alcohol applied to minimum (yes or no)

Thanks

Argyle

$200 a quarter

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People still belong to country clubs? Wow.

Is this a serious question?

country clubs are a dying breed and most have serious financial issues.

You don't get out much do you? If you did, you would see area clubs packed with families and children, especially during the summer.
As to financial issues, clubs suffered the same fate as many businesses during the economic downturn. Even in this lackluster "recovery", our is back to a waiting list.

That is exactly the issue, they are packed because the standards have dropped, both the cost, the financing options and who gets in. If you think it is a pirivilage to be a meember now you have been sold a bill of goods. wiat lists do not exist anymore. who wants to go to a packed pool that you pay a lot for?

Kind of depends on why you are a member. We did not do it for the prestige. We did it because DH plays golf and he wants to play when he wants w/o fear of a 6 hour round. I play tennis and I want the ease of signing up for a time that works for me and playing. Sure, the pool gets a lot of use but it still is not as crowded as the community pool near our house. We did it for the convenience.

[Anonymous]

Not a country club but a downtown club. Not exactly sure of the annual dues ($3000?) or the annual minimum ($400?). Assume that alcohol counts toward the minimum, but we've never had any problem meeting the minimum.

I'd prefer that they up the minimum and lower the dues (or not raise them as much). A minimum helps ensure that people are using the facilities, which has a few benefits. One, a restaurant is more cost effective if there are more people dining. Two, a place feels a little dead if there isn't a certain percentage of seats filled.

If you make the minimum monthly rather than quarterly or annual, I'd say price it at what a lunch or dinner for two would be.

Does your club have different levels of membership, such as junior, family, single, etc? Might make sense to have different minimums for each of those.

[Anonymous]

Does ANCC have a minimum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People still belong to country clubs? Wow.

Is this a serious question?

country clubs are a dying breed and most have serious financial issues.

You don't get out much do you? If you did, you would see area clubs packed with families and children, especially during the summer.
As to financial issues, clubs suffered the same fate as many businesses during the economic downturn. Even in this lackluster "recovery", our is back to a waiting list.

That is exactly the issue, they are packed because the standards have dropped, both the cost, the financing options and who gets in. If you think it is a pirivilage to be a meember now you have been sold a bill of goods. wiat lists do not exist anymore. who wants to go to a packed pool that you pay a lot for?

Kind of depends on why you are a member. We did not do it for the prestige. We did it because DH plays golf and he wants to play when he wants w/o fear of a 6 hour round. I play tennis and I want the ease of signing up for a time that works for me and playing. Sure, the pool gets a lot of use but it still is not as crowded as the community pool near our house. We did it for the convenience.

Same here. I am the earlier PP. When did I ever say anything about privilege to be a member? That is so not it. And yes, our club does have a waitlist. Pool not crowded and round of golf in under 3 hours.

[Anonymous]

I would totally join a CC but the ones near us have a $100k+ initiation fee. Any suggestions for pool and tennis (golf not necessary) in close in Md or DC.

[DCLyons]

Norbeck Country Club is a good one in Montgomery County. Reasonable fee's (there is a $250 quarterly food minimum, which does include drinks), good food, pool is rarely crowded in summer, very laid back and low key.....

[Anonymous]

$250/quarter f&b minimum for regular members - alcohol not included.

Minimum varies by membership status - non-residents do not have a minimum, junior members have a lower minimum (I think $125 or $150) and senior members also have a lower minimum.

Club is in NY (suburbs)

My in-laws' club (also in NY) offers a "take-out program" to use up the f&b minimum b/c people were complaining that they couldn't use it all. They can arrange to purchase "freezer" meals (think large containers of soup, lasagna trays, etc.) which have special pricing and count toward the minimum. The chef offers these specials at a certain point toward the end of each quarter so folks who may not meet their minimum can take advantage of it.