HHI for Country club membership?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Full service CC's tend to be very expensive with golf, tennis, swim etc etc plus food minimums. Unless you really use it it's a waste of money. If a lot of your friends are members that's a good reason to join but again only if you really use it. Don't do a cost/benefit analysis (# rounds of golf etc) because the numbers will say no.

If you pay for a pool for the summer throw that cost in. You can throw gym cost in. Tennis and then Golf. 25% of your eat out budget. It makes it look a little better but certainly not cost effective. I have been a member for almost 20 years. Near our house. Love it. We use it. If you will then it is great.

In terms of HHI. I really don't see how a non-rich family could pull it off below 250k. I was 350k when we joined but was almost 20 years ago. To fit into the lifestyle and be in the same conversations I would think we are talking 400k minimum.

HHI $600+ and this mentality is why you couldn't pay me to join one. Couldn't possibly imagine being stuck in a foursome with someone making $375k, what on earth would they have to talk about?!

375 and 600 don't live in the same world. You would have lots to talk about but what you are probably not talking about is private school for multiple kids. 1 or more vacation homes. Going on multiple expensive vacations a year. The issue is not with the 600k talking to the 375k. It is the 375k feeling comfortable in the conversation.

We don’t talk about money related matters. That’s low brow.

Went to the club today. These were our discussion topics:
- reading lists for the kids and how far along they are
- extracurriculars for the kids and how we plan to fit it all in
- vacations this summer and what we recommend when doing these places (Hawaii, Japan, Paris, Germany)
- trips to see aging parents
- how we all indulged too much and are looking forward to the structure school brings.

None of it was about money, politics or religion. Taboo topics.

This is a mom, correct. Other than vacations these are not guy topics. Ever.

What are guy topics? What a PP said above? And what does talking about “women” mean?

This, plus vacations, sometimes fitness, mostly completely random things guys talk about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have always thought it would be so nice to be a member of a CC because you have a "third place" to go (outside of your home and office), to work out, play tennis, have dinner, and maybe golf (but granted we are not golfers). Over the years, our kids (or DH and I) have been invited to events at Congressional, Kenwood, Chevy Chase, Columbia, Manor, Army Navy, and Bethesda Country Club. They all seem great! (Of course, I know that there are differences among them for sure.)

Our HHI is $600+, but that is a recent development, and so it would not be prudent for us to join, as we are squirreling away money now. Also my DH is reluctant to join at CC because he does not think he would use it. We're in our early 50's and I wonder if it's too late. Still, if I joined, I am pretty sure I'd enjoy it because I like to work out, play tennis, and socialize.

Here's the point of my post (if anyone is still with me)! I was chatting with friends from college recently at a girls' weekend. They are all more successful people -- ER doctor, engineering business owner, and college professor. My friends said that their DH's would never be willing to join a country club, even though they can easily afford it. I was kind of surprised, since it seems like it would be a lot of fun to join a CC. But it seems like there are people out there who would not join, regardless of net worth or HHI.

I am not a country club personal at all. Our country club facilities are quite nice and our family uses the club often. I don’t. My 3 kids swim, play on the tennis and golf teams, etc.

We were members of the local pool and a racquet club but the country club facilities are so much better.

We have a $2m+ HHI. I don’t think I would consider joining if we had a lower income.

Same. The clubs also run summer programs for the kids, which are quite good. HHI is MUCH lower than this though... maybe $400k (it varies).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Playing golf on public courses can be very expensive. My DH and I play golf about 2x/week each - We would easily spend more money at public courses than our CC. We also play tennis a few times a month and use the pool during the summer. There is also a nice gym that we can use. For us it's a good value and where we choose to spend our money. We don't buy expensive clothing, cars,do fancy dinners out, etc... everyone has different priorities and our liesure sports are ours. We like that we can play whenever and as much as we want at a fixed rate. To answer your question- we made about $200K/yr when we joined (many years ago) and now make about $500K.

This is a very good answer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Playing golf on public courses can be very expensive. My DH and I play golf about 2x/week each - We would easily spend more money at public courses than our CC. We also play tennis a few times a month and use the pool during the summer. There is also a nice gym that we can use. For us it's a good value and where we choose to spend our money. We don't buy expensive clothing, cars,do fancy dinners out, etc... everyone has different priorities and our liesure sports are ours. We like that we can play whenever and as much as we want at a fixed rate. To answer your question- we made about $200K/yr when we joined (many years ago) and now make about $500K.

Don't CC's charge greens fees too? Are they significantly lower than a public course?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Playing golf on public courses can be very expensive. My DH and I play golf about 2x/week each - We would easily spend more money at public courses than our CC. We also play tennis a few times a month and use the pool during the summer. There is also a nice gym that we can use. For us it's a good value and where we choose to spend our money. We don't buy expensive clothing, cars,do fancy dinners out, etc... everyone has different priorities and our liesure sports are ours. We like that we can play whenever and as much as we want at a fixed rate. To answer your question- we made about $200K/yr when we joined (many years ago) and now make about $500K.

Don't CC's charge greens fees too? Are they significantly lower than a public course?

Depends on club. Our charges no fees for me, wife, and kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Playing golf on public courses can be very expensive. My DH and I play golf about 2x/week each - We would easily spend more money at public courses than our CC. We also play tennis a few times a month and use the pool during the summer. There is also a nice gym that we can use. For us it's a good value and where we choose to spend our money. We don't buy expensive clothing, cars,do fancy dinners out, etc... everyone has different priorities and our liesure sports are ours. We like that we can play whenever and as much as we want at a fixed rate. To answer your question- we made about $200K/yr when we joined (many years ago) and now make about $500K.

Don't CC's charge greens fees too? Are they significantly lower than a public course?

No green fees at all- they are included in dues - We walk/pushcart 90% of the time because it's good exercise and we enjoy it- If we use a cart it's about $25 (and we typically only do when it's over 90F). Our retired friends play 4+ times/week... and some working people play after work most summer nights. Again, it's a good value if you like to play often- for some reason people seem to think country clubs are about hob nobbing... they don't seem to get that a lot of people love to play golf/tennis and that's why the belong to a club.

[Anonymous]

Joining a CC is only worth it if you are really going to use it. If you are a full golf member with dues of $12k - $15k a year and you only play 10 times and don’t play tennis or use the pool you are wasting your money. But if you play a lot and get involved in social activities it can be worth it. If the club has a good winter program that’s even better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Playing golf on public courses can be very expensive. My DH and I play golf about 2x/week each - We would easily spend more money at public courses than our CC. We also play tennis a few times a month and use the pool during the summer. There is also a nice gym that we can use. For us it's a good value and where we choose to spend our money. We don't buy expensive clothing, cars,do fancy dinners out, etc... everyone has different priorities and our liesure sports are ours. We like that we can play whenever and as much as we want at a fixed rate. To answer your question- we made about $200K/yr when we joined (many years ago) and now make about $500K.

Don't CC's charge greens fees too? Are they significantly lower than a public course?

No green fees at all- they are included in dues - We walk/pushcart 90% of the time because it's good exercise and we enjoy it- If we use a cart it's about $25 (and we typically only do when it's over 90F). Our retired friends play 4+ times/week... and some working people play after work most summer nights. Again, it's a good value if you like to play often- for some reason people seem to think country clubs are about hob nobbing... they don't seem to get that a lot of people love to play golf/tennis and that's why the belong to a club.

My husband and I are retired and we love to walk but hate using push carts. Our club has a caddie program and for the two of us that can add $150+ to a round. Along with our dues I’d hate to figure out what our cost per round is as I’m sure I’d choke on the number.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Joining a CC is only worth it if you are really going to use it. If you are a full golf member with dues of $12k - $15k a year and you only play 10 times and don’t play tennis or use the pool you are wasting your money. But if you play a lot and get involved in social activities it can be worth it. If the club has a good winter program that’s even better.

Again, a good comment.

May I add, living close by facilitates this. In my experience, less than 5 miles is optimal. Forty mile round-trips may seem OK at first, but are unsustainable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Full service CC's tend to be very expensive with golf, tennis, swim etc etc plus food minimums. Unless you really use it it's a waste of money. If a lot of your friends are members that's a good reason to join but again only if you really use it. Don't do a cost/benefit analysis (# rounds of golf etc) because the numbers will say no.

If you pay for a pool for the summer throw that cost in. You can throw gym cost in. Tennis and then Golf. 25% of your eat out budget. It makes it look a little better but certainly not cost effective. I have been a member for almost 20 years. Near our house. Love it. We use it. If you will then it is great.

In terms of HHI. I really don't see how a non-rich family could pull it off below 250k. I was 350k when we joined but was almost 20 years ago. To fit into the lifestyle and be in the same conversations I would think we are talking 400k minimum.

HHI $600+ and this mentality is why you couldn't pay me to join one. Couldn't possibly imagine being stuck in a foursome with someone making $375k, what on earth would they have to talk about?!

375 and 600 don't live in the same world. You would have lots to talk about but what you are probably not talking about is private school for multiple kids. 1 or more vacation homes. Going on multiple expensive vacations a year. The issue is not with the 600k talking to the 375k. It is the 375k feeling comfortable in the conversation.

Tell me you're a douche without telling me you're a douche.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We made 700k last year and haven't done it. My goal is to raise children who make it to adulthood without ever memorizing a member number to buy their chicken fingers poolside.

This! We make 7-figure, but the country club lifestyle is such a no no for me. We are currently traveling in Asia & Australia: I find that SO much better than the boring CC life. Our kids love travel and adventure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We made 700k last year and haven't done it. My goal is to raise children who make it to adulthood without ever memorizing a member number to buy their chicken fingers poolside.

This! We make 7-figure, but the country club lifestyle is such a no no for me. We are currently traveling in Asia & Australia: I find that SO much better than the boring CC life. Our kids love travel and adventure.

I don’t think they are mutually exclusive. We have a seven figure income. Dh and kids golf and play tennis. I take my youngest to the pool. We attend many events throughout the year like Halloween, brunch with Santa, afternoon tea with princesses, Easter hunt, laser tag, etc.

We also travel a lot. We probably go on 5-10 vacations per year.

[Anonymous]

I didn't seriously consider any club memberships until my income passed $1m/year and maybe more important became more stable/recession proof. House and 3 full private school tuitions take a bite out of net income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Full service CC's tend to be very expensive with golf, tennis, swim etc etc plus food minimums. Unless you really use it it's a waste of money. If a lot of your friends are members that's a good reason to join but again only if you really use it. Don't do a cost/benefit analysis (# rounds of golf etc) because the numbers will say no.

If you pay for a pool for the summer throw that cost in. You can throw gym cost in. Tennis and then Golf. 25% of your eat out budget. It makes it look a little better but certainly not cost effective. I have been a member for almost 20 years. Near our house. Love it. We use it. If you will then it is great.

In terms of HHI. I really don't see how a non-rich family could pull it off below 250k. I was 350k when we joined but was almost 20 years ago. To fit into the lifestyle and be in the same conversations I would think we are talking 400k minimum.

HHI $600+ and this mentality is why you couldn't pay me to join one. Couldn't possibly imagine being stuck in a foursome with someone making $375k, what on earth would they have to talk about?!

375 and 600 don't live in the same world. You would have lots to talk about but what you are probably not talking about is private school for multiple kids. 1 or more vacation homes. Going on multiple expensive vacations a year. The issue is not with the 600k talking to the 375k. It is the 375k feeling comfortable in the conversation.

We don’t talk about money related matters. That’s low brow.

Went to the club today. These were our discussion topics:
- reading lists for the kids and how far along they are
- extracurriculars for the kids and how we plan to fit it all in
- vacations this summer and what we recommend when doing these places (Hawaii, Japan, Paris, Germany)
- trips to see aging parents
- how we all indulged too much and are looking forward to the structure school brings.

None of it was about money, politics or religion. Taboo topics.

These…these are almost all about money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Full service CC's tend to be very expensive with golf, tennis, swim etc etc plus food minimums. Unless you really use it it's a waste of money. If a lot of your friends are members that's a good reason to join but again only if you really use it. Don't do a cost/benefit analysis (# rounds of golf etc) because the numbers will say no.

If you pay for a pool for the summer throw that cost in. You can throw gym cost in. Tennis and then Golf. 25% of your eat out budget. It makes it look a little better but certainly not cost effective. I have been a member for almost 20 years. Near our house. Love it. We use it. If you will then it is great.

In terms of HHI. I really don't see how a non-rich family could pull it off below 250k. I was 350k when we joined but was almost 20 years ago. To fit into the lifestyle and be in the same conversations I would think we are talking 400k minimum.

HHI $600+ and this mentality is why you couldn't pay me to join one. Couldn't possibly imagine being stuck in a foursome with someone making $375k, what on earth would they have to talk about?!

375 and 600 don't live in the same world. You would have lots to talk about but what you are probably not talking about is private school for multiple kids. 1 or more vacation homes. Going on multiple expensive vacations a year. The issue is not with the 600k talking to the 375k. It is the 375k feeling comfortable in the conversation.

Tell me you're a douche without telling me you're a douche.

?

PP made good points