Why does the DC area have so many country clubs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like OP, I also live in Bethesda and was genuinely surprised at the number of country clubs in our area. There are 5 country clubs just in Bethesda/Chevy Chase -- Kenwood, Chevy Chase Club, Columbia, Congressional, and Bethesda CC.

I grew up in the midwest where golf is very popular. But there are a lot of nice public courses in the midwest, where people can play. (And a lot of nice public pools.) And the country club dues are not absurdly-high. I was surprised by how few public golf courses in the Bethesda area, but I guess that, in a close-in suburb, the priority is to put housing rather than golf courses.

I really wish I belonged to a country club, as they seem awesome (golf, tennis, activities, pool, fitness center)! We can afford it, but my husband has a knee-jerk reaction against the idea of a country club, even though we know plenty of people who belong to them and who would probably be willing to write us a recommendation letter.

We do belong to a neighborhood pool club, and the only "criteria" is that you have to live in the neighborhood. There is a waiting list, but once you wait it out a few years, you can join. I wish that there were no waiting list, but the NIMBY's near the pool oppose any noise, and so hence the county limits the # of members. The pool creates a nice feel of community within the neighborhood (once you get off the wait list).

I honestly wish everyone had access to this kind of recreational amenity (like a country club). I wish counties and cities could make facilities like this more readily available to the public, as I believe it would enhance the quality of life. If I were on the Montgomery County Council, this would be my #1 priority, as I believe the quality of life is such an important goal.

Ironically, you skipped Burning Tree.

Also, those community pools are about as segregated as can be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Ironically, you skipped Burning Tree.

Also, those community pools are about as segregated as can be.

Burning Tree Country Club doesn't allow women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw a social media post that said if you see some wacky real estate situation racism is probably the reason.

It might shock you to know there is more to life than racism. Blacks made up a very small percent of the population outside the South until the great migrations started in the 30s. Country clubs were mainly founded in the late 19th century into the 1920s, although a flurry of new clubs emerged in the post war years. Most country clubs were not founded because people were worried about blacks, who, in the first place, were so poor while simultaneously useful as servants for the clubs. If anything, they were more worried about the wrong white people. Immigrant heritage whites like Italians and Poles and worse, Catholics. But more than anything, they were founded as part of the inevitable suburbanization and embracing of a leisure based outdoors lifestyle made feasible by lower density suburbanization. Which is why even the discriminated Jews and Irish and other groups built their own clubs.

Everything that you said about discrimination is true, but I think you may underestimate the impact of racial segregation on the built environment. This is why so many cities have black neighborhoods on the East site and white neighborhoods on the west, with highways or large parks or both dividing east from west.

Most people also don’t realize the huge role that the US federal government played in enforcing housing segregation in previously unsegregated ares prior to and during WWII.

If you’re interested in learning about this the entire history of Palo Alto California is an illustrative — and infuriating case study.

The long and meticulously researched book “The Color of Law” is an eye opening treatment of this entire history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC has way less older clubs than Philadelphia, Northern New Jersey, Westchester,Long Island and Boston. Even Baltimore prob has equal amount of clubs with less population. Golf craze took off early 20th century and these old close in clubs were built then. DC wasn’t an economically booming industrial area then like other Northeast cities. So you only had a small handful of these clubs built then. In contrast Philly probably has 20 old clubs and metro NYC probably 50 old clubs.

This entirely. DC had very little overall wealth until about 35 years ago. Some wealthy people had homes in DC but they were not their primary residences. Compared to the Northeast, DC so many less clubs which reflects this.

He's correct, the close-in DC legacy clubs are all about a century old, or more in some cases. Chevy, Columbia, Kenwood, Congressional, Washington Golf, Woodmont, Burning Tree, Belle Haven - they've been here a while.

[Anonymous]

Cause there are a lot of cringe weirdos in DC

I swear people who join country clubs are the ones who are trying to look wealthier than they are. Or those obsessed with status. I went to a top private school and the wealthiest students were not part of a country club. We all had our own pools at home and vacationed in Europe instead. One kid in my grade even had tennis courts at his house

[Anonymous]

I live near Chicago and there are many CCs over 100 years old. There is no doubt that they were established to be exclusive for either race, religion, money or single sex. While the clubs are less discriminating than 100 years ago the legacy still exists such that a traditional Jewish club is still predominantly Jewish, same with old Catholic clubs. My club is very old and is very white Christian with a few AA members and a decent number of Jewish members. There are a couple of great mostly Jewish clubs in the area and that’s where most Jews apply. When you have to spend a lot of money to join you want to join where you will feel comfortable.

[Anonymous]

While the people discussing race and discrimination aren't wrong, they're missing the simple, actual answer, which is that at the time most of these clubs were founded, there simply weren't any public golf courses in the area.

East Potomac was one of if not the first public golf course in the area, and it opened in 1921. Montgomery County didn't open their first public golf course until the 1960's.

Meanwhile, the Chevy Chase Club opened in 1892. Columbia in 1898. Burning Tree in 1922. These clubs formed when being in a private club was literally your only option to play golf.

[Anonymous]

Too many type A lawyers doing busy work for or against the government, with too much money that they don’t know what to do with

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like OP, I also live in Bethesda and was genuinely surprised at the number of country clubs in our area. There are 5 country clubs just in Bethesda/Chevy Chase -- Kenwood, Chevy Chase Club, Columbia, Congressional, and Bethesda CC.

I grew up in the midwest where golf is very popular. But there are a lot of nice public courses in the midwest, where people can play. (And a lot of nice public pools.) And the country club dues are not absurdly-high. I was surprised by how few public golf courses in the Bethesda area, but I guess that, in a close-in suburb, the priority is to put housing rather than golf courses.

I really wish I belonged to a country club, as they seem awesome (golf, tennis, activities, pool, fitness center)! We can afford it, but my husband has a knee-jerk reaction against the idea of a country club, even though we know plenty of people who belong to them and who would probably be willing to write us a recommendation letter.

We do belong to a neighborhood pool club, and the only "criteria" is that you have to live in the neighborhood. There is a waiting list, but once you wait it out a few years, you can join. I wish that there were no waiting list, but the NIMBY's near the pool oppose any noise, and so hence the county limits the # of members. The pool creates a nice feel of community within the neighborhood (once you get off the wait list).

I honestly wish everyone had access to this kind of recreational amenity (like a country club). I wish counties and cities could make facilities like this more readily available to the public, as I believe it would enhance the quality of life. If I were on the Montgomery County Council, this would be my #1 priority, as I believe the quality of life is such an important goal.

Just for the record, the DMV has great public golf options, both municipal and upscale daily fee.

+1

Montgomery County has public golf courses and a variety of indoor and outdoor public pools. They are more crowded than a private swim club and have more limited hours but can still be a lot of fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cause there are a lot of cringe weirdos in DC

I swear people who join country clubs are the ones who are trying to look wealthier than they are. Or those obsessed with status. I went to a top private school and the wealthiest students were not part of a country club. We all had our own pools at home and vacationed in Europe instead. One kid in my grade even had tennis courts at his house

What a weirdo comment. Our friends had pools and even tennis courts. And yet, their parents belonged to country clubs. And vacationed in Europe too (and MV and ACK). Hard to have an Oakmont-rated golf course in your yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cause there are a lot of cringe weirdos in DC

I swear people who join country clubs are the ones who are trying to look wealthier than they are. Or those obsessed with status. I went to a top private school and the wealthiest students were not part of a country club. We all had our own pools at home and vacationed in Europe instead. One kid in my grade even had tennis courts at his house

I respectfully disagree. Country clubs are a nice option for people who like to socialize and/or attend organized events (Easter Brunch, Mother's Day brunch, Independence Day BBQ, etc).

It's possible that your wealthy friends did not prioritize socializing with other people. That's one of the main benefits of a CC, in my humble opinion.

Also, it's nice to have a great gym and other athletic facilities that are not overcrowded. Some people prefer to work out at home (such as your wealthy friends), but other people like having a place away from the house to work out and play tennis, pickleball, etc.

Another advantage is the restaurants -- there is a dress code and a prohibition on cell phone use. So it's a pleasant place to get together with friends, as it's not too loud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in Arlington and there are no outdoor public pools, unless you count Upton Hills- one. There are no options unless you pay for a private pool.

Shocking! Get Arlington on that stat!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DC area doesn't have the water issues most of the American West does, which allows for more golf courses.

Palm Springs area and Phoenix have tons of golf courses though both are in the desert. Golfing is part of the culture

[Anonymous]

I live in an area in the DMV that is heavily military/military retirees. Soo many country clubs. I’ve lived in various parts VA, MD and DC over the past 30 years od my adult life and have never seen as many as now. 🤔

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live near Chicago and there are many CCs over 100 years old. There is no doubt that they were established to be exclusive for either race, religion, money or single sex. While the clubs are less discriminating than 100 years ago the legacy still exists such that a traditional Jewish club is still predominantly Jewish, same with old Catholic clubs. My club is very old and is very white Christian with a few AA members and a decent number of Jewish members. There are a couple of great mostly Jewish clubs in the area and that’s where most Jews apply. When you have to spend a lot of money to join you want to join where you will feel comfortable.

I am from Chicago, a poor kid who did well in a majority African American sport. There are numerous country clubs in Chicago, including predominately Jewish ones. A Jewish friend learned I could not swim at age 11, and she paid for lessons at Lake Shore Club in Glencoe, a generous thing to do.

I would say there are more clubs in Chicago than in the DMV. Every suburb has at least one club, and Chicago itself has several. Country clubs are not my thing, but people in general really desire them.

My hometown had a Jewish club (I caddied there) and it was nice. The town also had another private club (now closed) and a very good public course initially purchased by Black Hawk players. This for a suburb of 15,000.

The most exclusive club is arguable. Likely Wheaton Country Club in DuPage, a town in which Wheaton College, likely the best the Christian school in the nation, sits. None of it was my cup of tea but my cousins lived there and I was well aware of it. They are by definition elitist because they have 300 members at max.

My mother's home town has three country clubs - at town of 12,000. They too reek of privilege. My mother's family was the servant class for the people on the Lake.

Query what will happen to the 100 plus year old iconic courses in the South and Southwest suburbs - Medinah, Flossmoor, Cog Hill. The demographics of these suburbs have radically changed. These are places where PGA tournaments have been played.