Country Club Members, Is It Worth It?

[Anonymous]

DH and I are considering joining a club in the inner suburbs. We're DINKS in our 30's- he golfs, I'll use the other amenities. While we can easily afford the membership fee and monthly dues, I wonder if it's "worth it"? I see value in the proximity to our home (ie DH won't have to drive 30 min - 1 hr each way to play, pace of play should be faster than the public courses) and expanding our social network.

Members of clubs - what are the benefits or value you've gotten from your membership? If you had to do it all over again, would you still join?

[Anonymous]

Yes but ours is a mile away and we have a hundred friends that are members. Totally worth it but more of a family vibe so we get a lot of use out of the camps, tennis clinics, pool, clubhouse, childcare, holiday events, etc. Ours is very social though and some people are there every day.

[Anonymous]

You should take up golf. I would golf all the time if I didn’t have kids.

[Anonymous]

We joined late (kids are late teens) and we love it. I golf, he plays tennis. We both use the gym and the pool and enjoy the social events. We never could have afforded it earlier but love it now. I would say we each spend 10-15 hrs a week at the Club.

[Anonymous]

Country clubs are for the socially insecure (don’t have and can’t make friends) or status conscious people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Country clubs are for the socially insecure (don’t have and can’t make friends) or status conscious people.

Yea, that's a plus one in my book. When someone makes clear that they can "easily afford" to pay for a club and that one of the reasons for joining is to "expand the social network" it makes me want to barf. I never joined a CC precisely so I could avoid people who talk and think that way.

[Anonymous]

Does it make financial sense? No. A country club in this area (or any large metropolitan area) never makes financial sense. It's a lifestyle decision -- close to home, faster rounds, another "community" you can belong to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Country clubs are for the socially insecure (don’t have and can’t make friends) or status conscious people.

[Anonymous]

If you use it a lot, yes (especially if you have kids, so that should be a factor).

Ideal scenario is you live very close by (no more than 5-10 minute drive) and you already have friends at the club.

The non-obvious stuff is where it becomes worth it. Holiday events. Visitors from out of town using the pool, using the club to feed guests around the holidays (avoid cooking at home). We had a party of 25 visiting to celebrate a first communion for one of our kids. Restaurant “lost” our reservation despite confirming two days before. Called the club and told them we would have 25 people there in 15 minutes for dinner at 7 pm on a Saturday and it went off perfectly.

I’m my experience, club members have not been socially insecure friendless people. If anything, given the socio-economic demographic, it would seem to exclude socially insecure people. But YMMV.

Even though you don’t have kids, you’ll probably enjoy a club that skews toward the young family demographic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Country clubs are for the socially insecure (don’t have and can’t make friends) or status conscious people.

I this is kind of silly. You should not belong to a country club if you are socially insecure. It is social.

[Anonymous]

Definitely worth it for us for kid’s sports and activities. One DC golfs and they have a great golf program, and other does swim team. We are at the club almost every day in summer and several times a week in off seasons. One DC also learned tennis through club. My spouse and I golf and swim there as well. I think for serious golfers or tennis players, it can definitely make sense as it makes it much easier to play frequently etc.

[Anonymous]

If you golf a lot yes, if you just use it for the pool and dinner, no.

I golf 5-7 times a month - for me, the dues pay for themselves easily. Any reasonable public course is 45 min from the city and charges $100 or so a round. 5-7 rounds of that is more than my dues as an under 40 member. I also go before work to practice, which is something you can't just do at a public course.

When you factor in the other aspects -- gym (we canceled our expensive gyms and only use the club), the pool, dining, kid camps/activities, its a no brainer for us.

Cancelling our gyms took away nearly 50% of our dues alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Country clubs are for the socially insecure (don’t have and can’t make friends) or status conscious people.

It's actually quite the opposite but clearly you would have no idea.

Why do people think people join golf clubs for status? 90% join for GOLF, tennis or pool..not to brag about the mediocre food and firework party.

You must be a sad person..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Country clubs are for the socially insecure (don’t have and can’t make friends) or status conscious people.

Spoken like someone who hasn't actually belonged or been to one often. To me it is for people who enjoy the activities offered - golf, tennis and other racquet sports, fitness facilities, etc. and want to be able to use them often without big crowds or needing to wait.

While the dining isn't great compared to local restaurants, it is fine and so nice to just be able to pull in and not worry about parking or needing a reservation and running into your friends while eating out.

If you have kids, it is lots of activities for them and a great way to learn sports.

At least these are the reasons we belong to one. I doubt my friends who aren't members even know if our family belongs to a club or not.

[Anonymous]

Country clubs just seem too much fraternities in college to me. Basically a lot of similar personalities and backgrounds. Fun if you fit in, maybe not as welcoming otherwise.