Country Clubs...I want facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So...what does $600 a month buy you? Do you get unlimited access to the tennis courts, golf course, and pool? Food? Spa stuff? I obviously have no experience with country clubs. Even for the high salaries around here these initiation fees and monthly dues seem so high. Is it mostly about networking, or are the facilities of these places really that awesome? Do they all have restaurants? I guess all the people who go are pretty much rich, right? It's just a different world than the one I live in....

As a general rule, your monthly dues allow unlimited access to almost all facilities with the exception of golf which is an extra cost. Swimming pool, tennis and other facilities are usually included. Restaurants are on site, you pay for what you order and often there is a commitment to spend a certain amount per quarter (or month or year...) at the restaurant, pro shop, etc. I belong to Congressional and yes, the facilities are awesome. Are we rich? Yes by most of the US standards but probably lower upper or upper middle class by DC standards. My parents are wealthy and they are members, I grew up there and my parents paid for each of us kids to be members (part of our wedding gift for each of us). Could I swing it on my own? Heck no... Do we use the club? Yes, we swim there a lot, neither DH or I are big golfers but we go out occasionally. We play a lot of tennis, and socialize. A lot of people that I grew up with are members and a lot of DC's classmates are members so it is part of our social life. Are the people pretty much rich? I never really thought about it but I suppose most are. Quite honestly, I enjoy our membership, I do use it but I also recognize that it can be construed as excessive. I'm really grateful to my parents, I don't think we could have swung it on our own.

So your parents are rich and you're not.

Yawn. If you were old money you'd be at Chevy Chase anyway.

Not anymore. Chevy is all new money now. They will let in anyone if they are wealthy.

True. And you don't have to be wealthy, just able to pay the initiation fee and dues. There is no longer a wait at Congressional and Columbia. For Chevy, you get a summer membership immediately and it takes about two years (at most) for a full membership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Sorry lady. I grew up here and can tell you this may have been the case 40 years ago when DC was more provincial but not anymore. DC has changed and with the exception of a few, most elite and old money families in DC now don't join Chevy because of the stigma. True elite either have a house they go to or they have their own pool and play tennis elsewhere. If avid golfers they join Congressional because of the golf course or just play there as guests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Ha ha ha. Is this post for reall? This is not true. Chevy is lots of new money and within the past ten years it has become the club of choice for social climbers. Lived here most of my life and most of the very elite and old money families either don't belong to any clubs or they belong to Congressional (a few to Columbia).

[Anonymous]

What is the initiation fee at Avenel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For starters, only your husband will be able to play at Burning Tree. There are no women's bathrooms or locker rooms because women are not permitted inside the club at all, not even for social events. If they didn't bend the rules for Justice O'Connor, they won't do it for you.

What part of "private club" don't you understand?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy carp. Are the initiation fees like investments you get back if you leave? I can't imagine wanting to pay that and we are millionaires.

This is an anonymous chat room where everyone is a millionaire. We are not impressed and know that you are as full of it as a Christmas goose

Yeah afraid you don't get it

[Anonymous]

they all suck and full of ...............well what some people want to become

i prefer my boat and the water than the country club scene

[Anonymous]

We belong to a club and have been guests on numerous occasions to many of the clubs mentioned. Most of our friends belong to Chevy or Congressional. The golf course at congressional is by far the best. Food at Chevy and bethesda far better than congressional. Chevy feels a little racist , there's an air I don't like and it very, very WASPY. Congressional is more diverse and international. Bethesda has a mix and a good number of Jewish members.

[Anonymous]

my father is a member of Augusta National - so I think he's got it covered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We belong to a club and have been guests on numerous occasions to many of the clubs mentioned. Most of our friends belong to Chevy or Congressional. The golf course at congressional is by far the best. Food at Chevy and bethesda far better than congressional. Chevy feels a little racist , there's an air I don't like and it very, very WASPY. Congressional is more diverse and international. Bethesda has a mix and a good number of Jewish members.

That's because Congo lets anyone with the cash in. Old money it sure ain't

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

i prefer my boat and the water than the country club scene

This. $120,000 buys a decent new boat, a really nice 10 year old boat, or an amazing 20 year old boat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

i prefer my boat and the water than the country club scene

This. $120,000 buys a decent new boat, a really nice 10 year old boat, or an amazing 20 year old boat.

What's so great about a boat? Sounds like an utter snooze.

[Anonymous]

DC country clubs and private schools are a subtle form of arranged marriage...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

i prefer my boat and the water than the country club scene

This. $120,000 buys a decent new boat, a really nice 10 year old boat, or an amazing 20 year old boat.

What's so great about a boat? Sounds like an utter snooze.

Well, for one thing, it pretty much guarantees that I won't run into someone like you. That's worth $120,000 all by itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

i prefer my boat and the water than the country club scene

This. $120,000 buys a decent new boat, a really nice 10 year old boat, or an amazing 20 year old boat.

What's so great about a boat? Sounds like an utter snooze.

Well, for one thing, it pretty much guarantees that I won't run into someone like you. That's worth $120,000 all by itself.

And so does belonging to a country club for me. Money well spent