Anonymous
Post 06/06/2025 18:20     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I live in the Westchester suburbs now and we joined a low-key country club for for the ease of having swimming pool, beach, and tennis courts in one location. I will say that the non-golf country clubs here are much less expensive than in DC area. 30K initiation fee and about 10K in annual dues. Other things I like are that they do nice holiday events so if you don't feel like hosting, it is another option. Generally just a very relaxing place to go meet friends or hang out with the family.


No such thing. You are talking about a pool/tennis club. That is not a country club.


Not that it matters but they are absolutely called country clubs in NY and CT suburbs even without gold. Dotted all along Rye, Larchmont, sound shore towns. Are you familiar with the area? You have to be sponsored, approved by board, year round with social and recreational activities for all the major holidays etc. Swim and tennis clubs also exist but they are completely diffferent, there are no hefty initiation fees and dues are usually less than 2K for the year. None or limited activities during off season. I do think that the country club scene in NY is very different than the ones in DC. People don't seem to have their identity tied up as much with what club is more or less prestigious and most people just join club that is closest where they know the most people.


Meant to type without golf!
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2025 18:20     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I live in the Westchester suburbs now and we joined a low-key country club for for the ease of having swimming pool, beach, and tennis courts in one location. I will say that the non-golf country clubs here are much less expensive than in DC area. 30K initiation fee and about 10K in annual dues. Other things I like are that they do nice holiday events so if you don't feel like hosting, it is another option. Generally just a very relaxing place to go meet friends or hang out with the family.


No such thing. You are talking about a pool/tennis club. That is not a country club.


Not that it matters but they are absolutely called country clubs in NY and CT suburbs even without gold. Dotted all along Rye, Larchmont, sound shore towns. Are you familiar with the area? You have to be sponsored, approved by board, year round with social and recreational activities for all the major holidays etc. Swim and tennis clubs also exist but they are completely diffferent, there are no hefty initiation fees and dues are usually less than 2K for the year. None or limited activities during off season. I do think that the country club scene in NY is very different than the ones in DC. People don't seem to have their identity tied up as much with what club is more or less prestigious and most people just join club that is closest where they know the most people.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2025 13:16     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's like going on a mini-vacation everytime I set foot on the property. A true refuge from the craziness of the world. Tennis, pool, fitness center, and fully stocked locker room. The service is amazing - everyone who works there goes above and beyond. The food is actually very good at ours and the bartender has a very heavy pour. Yes there are snobs and social climbers, but mainly in the young set, people my age (late 40s - 50s) are chill and friendly. We all just want to play our sport and relax with our friends/family in peace. It doesn't constantly reek of pot, have any litter, and there is always somewhere to park.

We pay for the convenience, the service, and the peace.


Ha ha you called 50s young.


You clearly have never been to one. 40-50s IS young in that set. We have a lot of very old people at ours.


Yes and no. Clubs go older which makes sense because a good club is 100k to join and expensive. You need to have the cash. Mothly could be a grand or more depending on what you do. You have to be able to to miss that and not to care about it. I said no because I have seen over the last 5-10 years that there are a lot more people in their 30s and 40s that are rich and are joining.



Also, most clubs make it relatively cheap for children of members to join when they are in their twenties.


Ours is still a $45K initiation fee for a young professional sports (non golf) membership. Even for kids of members. But we have a waitlist so they don't have to discount it too much.


Ours prides itself as a family club, so children of members can join for 10 percent of the normal young adult initiation if they join before 30. It’s a fantastic deal.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2025 11:25     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's like going on a mini-vacation everytime I set foot on the property. A true refuge from the craziness of the world. Tennis, pool, fitness center, and fully stocked locker room. The service is amazing - everyone who works there goes above and beyond. The food is actually very good at ours and the bartender has a very heavy pour. Yes there are snobs and social climbers, but mainly in the young set, people my age (late 40s - 50s) are chill and friendly. We all just want to play our sport and relax with our friends/family in peace. It doesn't constantly reek of pot, have any litter, and there is always somewhere to park.

We pay for the convenience, the service, and the peace.


Ha ha you called 50s young.


You clearly have never been to one. 40-50s IS young in that set. We have a lot of very old people at ours.


Yes and no. Clubs go older which makes sense because a good club is 100k to join and expensive. You need to have the cash. Mothly could be a grand or more depending on what you do. You have to be able to to miss that and not to care about it. I said no because I have seen over the last 5-10 years that there are a lot more people in their 30s and 40s that are rich and are joining.



Also, most clubs make it relatively cheap for children of members to join when they are in their twenties.


Ours is still a $45K initiation fee for a young professional sports (non golf) membership. Even for kids of members. But we have a waitlist so they don't have to discount it too much.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2025 11:24     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Anonymous wrote:I grew up going to WGCC. The biggest draw IMO is kids can run around (lots of grassy area) while parents eat dinner, relax, socialize, etc. Not like other restaurants where you have to get in, eat as fast as possible before the kids melt down, get out.

The pool was nice, so much nicer than public pools. We go to public pools now and they give me so much ick.

As a teenager I used the gym a lot.

The service is also just better. They’re nice and they remember you.

If I could afford it, I’d join. H hates it, though. Whenever we go to WGCC with my family he’s one of the few non-white people and he feels very out of place.


All of this. We don't live in the DC area but belong to one where we live. Someone in our family is there 6-7 days a week. Between golf, the gym, the pool, book club, majhong meet ups, remote working we use it a lot. Our kids are older now but for the families with young kids it's a great place for the kids to hang out together while the parents play tennis, golf, eat, etc.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2025 11:22     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's like going on a mini-vacation everytime I set foot on the property. A true refuge from the craziness of the world. Tennis, pool, fitness center, and fully stocked locker room. The service is amazing - everyone who works there goes above and beyond. The food is actually very good at ours and the bartender has a very heavy pour. Yes there are snobs and social climbers, but mainly in the young set, people my age (late 40s - 50s) are chill and friendly. We all just want to play our sport and relax with our friends/family in peace. It doesn't constantly reek of pot, have any litter, and there is always somewhere to park.

We pay for the convenience, the service, and the peace.


Ha ha you called 50s young.


You clearly have never been to one. 40-50s IS young in that set. We have a lot of very old people at ours.


Yes and no. Clubs go older which makes sense because a good club is 100k to join and expensive. You need to have the cash. Mothly could be a grand or more depending on what you do. You have to be able to to miss that and not to care about it. I said no because I have seen over the last 5-10 years that there are a lot more people in their 30s and 40s that are rich and are joining.



Also, most clubs make it relatively cheap for children of members to join when they are in their twenties.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2025 11:21     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Most clubs are relatively low priced camps for members. Bonus is that kids usually learn golf and tennis while there.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2025 11:18     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

We belong to Congressional and it is against the rules to conduct business on the property. Sure, people will invite others and talk business. But it is pretty bad form to approach another member for business opportunities, unless you know them REALLY well.

So the idea that people join to climb the corporate ladder really isn't true.

Again, people will invite guests from outside the club for business purposes. Like a round of golf.

Also, in my experience, people go there to spend time with their family, and with friends they already know from school or neighborhood. It is a big club, so I don't know if they norm is to meet brand new friends strictly through the club that you end up socializing with a lot.

Just my two cents.
Anonymous
Post 06/05/2025 23:52     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's like going on a mini-vacation everytime I set foot on the property. A true refuge from the craziness of the world. Tennis, pool, fitness center, and fully stocked locker room. The service is amazing - everyone who works there goes above and beyond. The food is actually very good at ours and the bartender has a very heavy pour. Yes there are snobs and social climbers, but mainly in the young set, people my age (late 40s - 50s) are chill and friendly. We all just want to play our sport and relax with our friends/family in peace. It doesn't constantly reek of pot, have any litter, and there is always somewhere to park.

We pay for the convenience, the service, and the peace.


Ha ha you called 50s young.


You clearly have never been to one. 40-50s IS young in that set. We have a lot of very old people at ours.


Yes and no. Clubs go older which makes sense because a good club is 100k to join and expensive. You need to have the cash. Mothly could be a grand or more depending on what you do. You have to be able to to miss that and not to care about it. I said no because I have seen over the last 5-10 years that there are a lot more people in their 30s and 40s that are rich and are joining.
Anonymous
Post 06/05/2025 23:51     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

I grew up going to WGCC. The biggest draw IMO is kids can run around (lots of grassy area) while parents eat dinner, relax, socialize, etc. Not like other restaurants where you have to get in, eat as fast as possible before the kids melt down, get out.

The pool was nice, so much nicer than public pools. We go to public pools now and they give me so much ick.

As a teenager I used the gym a lot.

The service is also just better. They’re nice and they remember you.

If I could afford it, I’d join. H hates it, though. Whenever we go to WGCC with my family he’s one of the few non-white people and he feels very out of place.
Anonymous
Post 06/05/2025 23:38     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Anonymous wrote:I live in the Westchester suburbs now and we joined a low-key country club for for the ease of having swimming pool, beach, and tennis courts in one location. I will say that the non-golf country clubs here are much less expensive than in DC area. 30K initiation fee and about 10K in annual dues. Other things I like are that they do nice holiday events so if you don't feel like hosting, it is another option. Generally just a very relaxing place to go meet friends or hang out with the family.


How often do you use it? Summer? Rest of the year?
Anonymous
Post 06/05/2025 15:14     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Anonymous wrote:I live in the Westchester suburbs now and we joined a low-key country club for for the ease of having swimming pool, beach, and tennis courts in one location. I will say that the non-golf country clubs here are much less expensive than in DC area. 30K initiation fee and about 10K in annual dues. Other things I like are that they do nice holiday events so if you don't feel like hosting, it is another option. Generally just a very relaxing place to go meet friends or hang out with the family.


No such thing. You are talking about a pool/tennis club. That is not a country club.
Anonymous
Post 06/05/2025 14:20     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Somewhere to go, hang out not feel so lonely. Non working SAH spouse.
Anonymous
Post 06/05/2025 14:19     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

I live in the Westchester suburbs now and we joined a low-key country club for for the ease of having swimming pool, beach, and tennis courts in one location. I will say that the non-golf country clubs here are much less expensive than in DC area. 30K initiation fee and about 10K in annual dues. Other things I like are that they do nice holiday events so if you don't feel like hosting, it is another option. Generally just a very relaxing place to go meet friends or hang out with the family.
Anonymous
Post 06/05/2025 14:16     Subject: Benefits of country clubs?

Bragging…