I would only do the Cosmos Club, if invited. It actually means something. But I would likely never be invited and it isn't something I am pining for. It is a lovely building though.

Can anyone confirm if Army-Navy Club is still open to GS-13 civilians?

Remember the International Club? Gone these 25 years or more.
Army-Navy club-- very much an anomaly from the inter war years: opened membership to civilian government employees gs-13 and up back in the '90s.


Even things like the Explorers Club in NYC are a holdout from a bygone age.

Like Boodles or the Empire in London

I don't see golf dying down anytime that soon and think that the more elite clubs are thriving, alive and well albeit if they are comprised of a slightly older demographic.

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious, why do people belong to clubs like these? I'm not being snarky, I just don't know what they offer.

These clubs, and also country clubs are facing this issue lately. Back in the older days, these places were great for networking, and you entire circle of friends was probably there a few times a week.

Now, people are just too busy and there are many other ways to network. On top of that, golf has fallen out of style (in the country club situation). I think we'll start to see more of these clubs start shutting down or downsizing as their members die off and no one is there to replace them. Didn't one of these clubs in Georgetown shut down in the last year or two? What about the one near GW that has a fixed member count limit?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious, why do people belong to clubs like these? I'm not being snarky, I just don't know what they offer.

Rub shoulders with the elite. Spheres of influence. However, it is quiet influence. The best wedding reception I ever attended was at the Cosmos Club. It used to have a Ladies Entrance but I think women are now allowed membership. You have to have "arrived" to be invited to join.

When was this wedding? I went to a wedding there in 2008 and it was unbelievable. So beautiful.

I'm the 1990's.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dined there with a member several times. The food was excellent.

OP, if you were asked to join, don't think about it in terms of "prestigious." Think about it in terms of do you want what it offers.

P.S. Most DCUMers don't belong to the clubs in DC.

We do, Cosmos Club

I didn't say any. If most of DCUM belonged to any of these clubs we'd probably have a forum.

I don't belong to any of the clubs in this area but I've been to many of them multiple times. I do think the OP needs to be wary of soliciting opinions on these clubs based on DCUM posters. The snark often overrides facts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious, why do people belong to clubs like these? I'm not being snarky, I just don't know what they offer.

Rub shoulders with the elite. Spheres of influence. However, it is quiet influence. The best wedding reception I ever attended was at the Cosmos Club. It used to have a Ladies Entrance but I think women are now allowed membership. You have to have "arrived" to be invited to join.

May be true for people in their 60s or 70s, but I know plenty of younger "elite" folks who belong to no such club (instead it is more TED, Davos, SXSW and the like)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious, why do people belong to clubs like these? I'm not being snarky, I just don't know what they offer.

Rub shoulders with the elite. Spheres of influence. However, it is quiet influence. The best wedding reception I ever attended was at the Cosmos Club. It used to have a Ladies Entrance but I think women are now allowed membership. You have to have "arrived" to be invited to join.

When was this wedding? I went to a wedding there in 2008 and it was unbelievable. So beautiful.

Was at a wedding last year and must say it was the most elegant wedding I have ever attended, (a second cousins wedding).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious, why do people belong to clubs like these? I'm not being snarky, I just don't know what they offer.

Rub shoulders with the elite. Spheres of influence. However, it is quiet influence. The best wedding reception I ever attended was at the Cosmos Club. It used to have a Ladies Entrance but I think women are now allowed membership. You have to have "arrived" to be invited to join.

When was this wedding? I went to a wedding there in 2008 and it was unbelievable. So beautiful.

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious, why do people belong to clubs like these? I'm not being snarky, I just don't know what they offer.

Rub shoulders with the elite. Spheres of influence. However, it is quiet influence. The best wedding reception I ever attended was at the Cosmos Club. It used to have a Ladies Entrance but I think women are now allowed membership. You have to have "arrived" to be invited to join.

Anonymous wrote:Metropolitan Club is more "prestigious" - also stuffier, etc.

Cosmos Club is probably more "prestigious" - but same stuffiness.

University Club is plenty nice to go to, has good to amazing food, a great gym, wonderful squash, and really nice people. Stuffiness factor is pretty low, yet it is still elegant. But don't join if you won't use it - it is not inexpensive.

Which one, if any, has a good community of people in their 40s?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dined there with a member several times. The food was excellent.

OP, if you were asked to join, don't think about it in terms of "prestigious." Think about it in terms of do you want what it offers.

P.S. Most DCUMers don't belong to the clubs in DC.

We do, Cosmos Club

Enjoy it while you can. Most members are not far off the sweet release of death. They have to call as many hearses as taxis for their guests.

Cosmos is the haughtiest and most exclusive in my opinion which is not necessarily a good thing just the an opinion.

How about the Georgetown club?