Anonymous wrote:Recently, multiple acquaintances have joined country clubs. They are not close enough that I can ask them why, but they are all people who I would not think would be the type and also the rest of their lifestyle doesn’t align with spending so much on this. (I’m sure that shows my bias, but I really am trying to understand if I am closed off to an idea that could be fun or helpful in some way.)

Are there professional benefits to joining? Is it really like the movies where people are making deals on the golf course? Do some companies pay for their leadership to join such clubs?

Have they gotten cheaper? I had thought it was a minimum 50-100k to join and then multiple thousands each month. That seems like a lot for the people I know, but of course I don’t know the ins and outs of their finances.

$100k is one year of college tuition for my kid. Full pay.

Many if the families we know have law firms/businesses that pay their memberships as a perk

Golf, tennis, hockey, gym, a place to go.

Anonymous wrote:If they had non golf country clubs here I would totally join. I guess they don’t have them here because there are pool clubs, but I can’t get off the waitlist at the pool clubs near me. I’d pay $100K to join the Arlington Forest Club if that were an option. But I don’t want to play for golf when I don’t play.

I am normally cheap but having a nice community where you can do fun activities sounds lovely and like a great thing to spend money on that will actually increase your happiness.

Most country clubs have social/sports memberships that don’t include golf.

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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.

OP here. I guess this is really it for me. We are white and fairly liberal. So are the people I know who joined. I feel like the clubs near us are really white and it sort of feels icky. But the people I know who have joined are really liberal and so I’m wondering if I am misjudging things or not. I mean, we live in a very diverse neighborhood ethnically, but to be frank, it’s not diverse economically, so perhaps it’s not that different. I don’t know.

The point of country clubs is literally to exclude poor people OP. There are plenty of public courses, pools, and restaurants one can visit without paying fees.

I personally enjoy the exclusive environments that country clubs offer. It’s nice knowing that no one will be blasting in vulgar music at the pool or starting an altercation with other patrons at the restaurant. Unfortunately I’m too poor to afford one so can only enjoy the benefits while tagging along with wealthier friends.

All of the clubs I have visited even very rural while areas have had a least a few people of color. But you need to be honest about if country club’s membership aligns with your liberal values. You performatively fret about places with many white people feeling “icky” while at the same time seeking economic segregation. Be honest about that.

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.

We have tennis clubs with pools and it’s very affordable, you pay 5k for a bond (ownership of the club) then pay 5k per year. You can sell your bond later on. So it’s actually cheaper than family membership to equinox or something.

If they had non golf country clubs here I would totally join. I guess they don’t have them here because there are pool clubs, but I can’t get off the waitlist at the pool clubs near me. I’d pay $100K to join the Arlington Forest Club if that were an option. But I don’t want to play for golf when I don’t play.

I am normally cheap but having a nice community where you can do fun activities sounds lovely and like a great thing to spend money on that will actually increase your happiness.

We're using it for the golf.

Anonymous wrote:I’m just there for the tennis.

Same. In a million years I would not have predicted my husband I would join a CC but I love the tennis and he loves the golf. We use it like an $$$$$ gym.

The only people I know who belong to country clubs 100% only do it for the golf. They enjoy the other amenities but wouldn't belong if they didn't golf.

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.

OP here. I guess this is really it for me. We are white and fairly liberal. So are the people I know who joined. I feel like the clubs near us are really white and it sort of feels icky. But the people I know who have joined are really liberal and so I’m wondering if I am misjudging things or not. I mean, we live in a very diverse neighborhood ethnically, but to be frank, it’s not diverse economically, so perhaps it’s not that different. I don’t know.

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 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.

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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 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 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.