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:Playing golf on public courses can be very expensive. My DH and I play golf about 2x/week each - We would easily spend more money at public courses than our CC. We also play tennis a few times a month and use the pool during the summer. There is also a nice gym that we can use. For us it's a good value and where we choose to spend our money. We don't buy expensive clothing, cars,do fancy dinners out, etc... everyone has different priorities and our liesure sports are ours. We like that we can play whenever and as much as we want at a fixed rate. To answer your question- we made about $200K/yr when we joined (many years ago) and now make about $500K.

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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.

We don’t talk about money related matters. That’s low brow.

Went to the club today. These were our discussion topics:
- reading lists for the kids and how far along they are
- extracurriculars for the kids and how we plan to fit it all in
- vacations this summer and what we recommend when doing these places (Hawaii, Japan, Paris, Germany)
- trips to see aging parents
- how we all indulged too much and are looking forward to the structure school brings.

None of it was about money, politics or religion. Taboo topics.

This is a mom, correct. Other than vacations these are not guy topics. Ever.

What are guy topics? What a PP said above? And what does talking about “women” mean?

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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.

We don’t talk about money related matters. That’s low brow.

Went to the club today. These were our discussion topics:
- reading lists for the kids and how far along they are
- extracurriculars for the kids and how we plan to fit it all in
- vacations this summer and what we recommend when doing these places (Hawaii, Japan, Paris, Germany)
- trips to see aging parents
- how we all indulged too much and are looking forward to the structure school brings.

None of it was about money, politics or religion. Taboo topics.

This is a mom, correct. Other than vacations these are not guy topics. Ever.

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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.

$100K lump sum plus $1500/month???? That is insanity. No, never. We are at $600-700HHI and would never in a million years consider it. I'd rather buy an investment property, or save for college, or retirement, or vacation, or donate that $100K to various non-profits. There are an infinite amount of things that I could think of as better options for that $100K than the country club. Our summer pool membership was $675. We'll stay there and pay for our poolside chicken fingers in cash. Ridiculous.

For clubs like this, very few people are coming out of pocket for the initial cost. And for those that are, that $100K doesn’t stop them from doing all of the other financial things you mentioned. That’s the difference, and why their calculus is 180 degrees different from yours. IYKYK.

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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.

We don’t talk about money related matters. That’s low brow.

Went to the club today. These were our discussion topics:
- reading lists for the kids and how far along they are
- extracurriculars for the kids and how we plan to fit it all in
- vacations this summer and what we recommend when doing these places (Hawaii, Japan, Paris, Germany)
- trips to see aging parents
- how we all indulged too much and are looking forward to the structure school brings.

None of it was about money, politics or religion. Taboo topics.

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.

We don’t talk about money related matters. That’s low brow.

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.

I've been both and am now $750K and let me tell you, there is nothing I detest more than the "conversations" that consist of people one-upping each other with their latest hotel or vacation destination and seeing who whips out the more prestigious credit card when the bill comes. These are not conversations. They are status displays for social jockeying. I prefer my friends (of any income) any day.

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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.

$100K lump sum plus $1500/month???? That is insanity. No, never. We are at $600-700HHI and would never in a million years consider it. I'd rather buy an investment property, or save for college, or retirement, or vacation, or donate that $100K to various non-profits. There are an infinite amount of things that I could think of as better options for that $100K than the country club. Our summer pool membership was $675. We'll stay there and pay for our poolside chicken fingers in cash. Ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:There is no HHI at which I would consider joining a country club.

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

We don’t talk about money related matters. That’s low brow.