Anonymous wrote:We recently left the DC area. We lived by a cc but didnt join because it didnt really make sense. We had a neighborhood pool and restaurants that we liked, and we tended to golf at the MoCo public courses.

We moved to the south and it's unthinkable not to have a membership at the ones here. But cc culture here in the south is A LOT different. The clubs are in a consortium, so you buy one membership and get access to all of them. You have to pay extra to add on the "premier" one that is subtantially nicer, and although its literally only like 50 bucks a month to add on, it seems like only the richer people do and the clientele is a lot more upscale than the other ones.

The clubs here seem to go for a younger and more fun-loving crowd. They have things lke gyms with classes, a lounge area with a Top Golf simulator, wine dinners, and an adults only pool with swim-up bar. This is in addition to typical club feature like golf, etc.

There is an add-on where you get access to clubs throughout the world, so you could go on vacation and hit up the cc where you vacation.

I have been shocked at how inexpensive the membership is. We paid under a grand for initiation, and have a social membership with access to the driving range and 10 rounds of golf per year (just pay to play more, with a friend that has a full membership. We pay about $200 per month for this.

I dont know what the "class" is. This is a rich town and it seems like everyone at the club is comfortable. We dont talk about 401ks and stuff like that, as people here have mentioned. We talk about things like concerts that are upcoming, trips, vacations, a bit about work, and random things like aliens and conspiracy theories. I think people who make under 400 would be able to relate to all that.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My kids have travelled to Asia and Europe and also eat chicken fingers by the pool having their number memorized. It’s not mutually exclusive.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My kids have travelled to Asia and Europe and also eat chicken fingers by the pool having their number memorized. It’s not mutually exclusive.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My kids have travelled to Asia and Europe and also eat chicken fingers by the pool having their number memorized. It’s not mutually exclusive.

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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

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.

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.

Hahahaha. College professors don’t make much money. Hahahaha.

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.

Anonymous wrote: I was invited to an event at congressional a while back . One of the things that struck me was how poorly dressed so many men were .It looked as though most of these men had never heard of made-to-measure . It was obvious these people had never been to a tailor , given the sheer number of baggy, drab , ill fitting suits worn by the majority. The place looked like someone in the trailer park hit the lottery and somehow rented the place for a day . Who knows ? Maybe that was the goal : Trailer park chic .

As for the clubs themselves, my opinion is pretty straightforward: I see no reason(s) to join but I wouldn't begrudge those who do .

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much are country club memberships? I think that is the only question that needs to be asked.

It depends on the club. One near us is $100K to join and $1500 monthly use it/lose it. $15K to get on the 7 year wait list. We are very financially comfortable and have CC member money, but DH 'doesn't need to buy friends'. I can see his point, but we get invited to go all the time with various friends. DH never goes, but I enjoy it for the both of us.

Anonymous wrote:

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 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.