Membership at Chevy Chase Club

[Anonymous]

What the hell about retirement savings? Or college funds? I just don't get it!!!!

Yes, we have those taken care of too. It seems that many people just don't understand that a lot of people make a lot of money and can afford international travel, and private schools, and retirement funds, and college funs and STILL have the ability to join a country club. Yes, 75 or 100K is a lot of money, but its the same price (well, the 75K) as my wedding and that only lasted one night. A country club membership (absent monthly fees) can provide, what, 40 or 50 years (god wiling) of entertainment. Looking at it that way, its not like its "that" expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What the hell about retirement savings? Or college funds? I just don't get it!!!!

Yes, we have those taken care of too. It seems that many people just don't understand that a lot of people make a lot of money and can afford international travel, and private schools, and retirement funds, and college funs and STILL have the ability to join a country club. Yes, 75 or 100K is a lot of money, but its the same price (well, the 75K) as my wedding and that only lasted one night. A country club membership (absent monthly fees) can provide, what, 40 or 50 years (god wiling) of entertainment. Looking at it that way, its not like its "that" expensive.

You can't afford it on $300,000 gross though. Any financial planner would tell you that you are a fool.

[Anonymous]

What about Kenwood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eh. In terms of exclusivity there is one one club in the DC area and that's Burning Tree. The rest of the clubs will take anyone with a check in hand.

But Burning Tree doesn't allow women even for parties. Last year they opened the pro shop in December for wives, by appoingment only, for wives Christmas shopping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people need to lighten up. I'm sure many if not most of the people on this forum belong to some type of social club or pool that requires dues. Lets face it, almost everyone wants to be able to join as nice of a place as they can afford. What's really expensive for one family may not be as much for another. Its easy for people who can't afford these clubs to hate on them, but come on - you know you wish you could join too.

Um . . . $80,000?! If that's what most people on this forum pay for initiation dues for a social club, then no wonder so many posts are out of touch with "middle America."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Kenwood?

A nice club. Not as prestigious as Congo or CCC of course but solid. A lot of Bethesda and District families. Less stuffy. Great place to hangout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh. In terms of exclusivity there is one one club in the DC area and that's Burning Tree. The rest of the clubs will take anyone with a check in hand.

But Burning Tree doesn't allow women even for parties. Last year they opened the pro shop in December for wives, by appoingment only, for wives Christmas shopping.

But they allow a lot of African American men.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it one of the few clubs in the area to have had an accused murderer play the course?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the firms in DC pay for the monthly membership dues. My DH's firm does, but you are on your own for the initiation fee. We are also in the $300-$600K income range and don't feel like we're flush with cash to spend $150K for the initiation.

it's just not a priority for you. It is for others. I bet you could come up with $100K if it was one of your life's goal to become a member. We're not wealthy by any means (single $250K income) but even we could find the funds if we absolutely wanted to. As it stands, we're not members (and will never be) but some of our friends from school are. It's the expected thing to do for many and the center of come DC social circles. For some people, they wouldn't see their friends or family members if they weren't members themselves. So not everyone who ponies up the 100K views it as a trivial amount of money and has millions in the bank. The people we know that are members still watch their budgets and buy their kid's clothing at Target. They're not lighting $100 bills on fire. They just factor in the money like the rest of us factor in what is important to us (be it fully funded college accounts, foreign language lessons, international travel, etc. etc).

Agree with this. We are on waiting list for one of top 3 and are not uber wealthy. My husband is passionate about golf and it's one of his lifelong dreams to be able to play easily on a really good course. We prioritize country club over lavish vacations or a second home. We couldn't do both and for us, we are choosing a club because it's something we as a family can use year round and get the most bang for our buck.

Actually, HHI of 250k (especially with one income) *is* considered wealthy by the vast, vast majority of people in the United States.

[Anonymous]

I am not surprised that people can have a home, international travel, etc and still have money for a country club. I am just shocked that you would spend $100k on a country club, of all things. Imagine all you could do with that money by scaling back just a tiiiiiny bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not surprised that people can have a home, international travel, etc and still have money for a country club. I am just shocked that you would spend $100k on a country club, of all things. Imagine all you could do with that money by scaling back just a tiiiiiny bit.

(I mean charitably - a gift of $100k would have generations of impact to starving families in Haiti, for example.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not surprised that people can have a home, international travel, etc and still have money for a country club. I am just shocked that you would spend $100k on a country club, of all things. Imagine all you could do with that money by scaling back just a tiiiiiny bit.

(I mean charitably - a gift of $100k would have generations of impact to starving families in Haiti, for example.)

The person that loves to tell others what to do with their money.

[Anonymous]

What happens if you leave the area? Do you get any of your membership fee back? Genuinely curious.

[Anonymous]

No - you don't get your membership fee back if you move. I don't think you do at any of the local clubs. Another thing about the membership fee - at most clubs you don't pay it all in one fell swoop. It's more like 10-20k per year for five years so it doesn't feel as big of a burden when you're actually paying it down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh. In terms of exclusivity there is one one club in the DC area and that's Burning Tree. The rest of the clubs will take anyone with a check in hand.

What are the other nice country clubs in the DC area?

Congressional Country Club
Columbia Country Club
Bethesda Country Club
Woodmont Country Club

Said the new moneyed Potomac wife.