If you are passionate about golf, then you owe it to yourself to join a country club. Not only do clubs have some of the best golf facilities around, but they also offer a host of other advantages. Although you have to become a club member before fully experiencing those advantages for yourself, you can learn all about them now.
Read on to discover 10 benefits of joining a country club.
Regular Golfing
To be a great golfer, you must play the game as often as you can. The video below makes this point quite clear.
Pro-level golfing may not be your goal, but for players of all levels, practice is essential. Country club membership gives you the opportunity to golf frequently without having to pay a fee each time. In fact, the more often you play, the more you'll feel that you're getting your money's worth out of your dues. It's a great excuse to golf as much as you'd like!
Historic Course
Not every period of golf course architecture has been worth remembering. In particular, there have been periods in which architects were more likely to reshape the landscape than to work with its natural flow. Golfers who want to avoid this artificial style may want to look for courses built around 100 years ago, during a period that is sometimes considered one of golf's golden ages. Private clubs are some of the best places to find historic courses built by famed architects.
Professional Staff
A country club's staff often includes golf professionals. These experts are trained to help others become better golfers. Belonging to a country club gives you the opportunity to work with these golf pros. You may be able to book a private lesson, during which you can begin to weed out your golfing weaknesses and replace them with stronger skills. These lessons may, over time, help you become a better golfer.
Impeccable Maintenance
Unlike municipal courses, which rely on tax funding, private courses benefit from the support of annual membership dues. Because golf is highly valued at a country club, much of this money is set aside for the regular care and upkeep of the course. The professional greens staff focuses much of its time on mowing the course, watering the grass, and raking the bunkers. This crew puts careful thought into what grasses to use and performs annual or semi-annual tasks like aeration. A country club's funds can also be used for long-term maintenance projects and major renovations that keep the golf course fresh and modern year after year.
Clubhouse Facilities
A country club is more than just a golf course. The facilities include a clubhouse, which usually has dining areas and meeting rooms. In the club's restaurant, you can grab a drink after a round of golf, or you can bring your whole family to enjoy a fine-dining experience for dinner. You may be able to rent part of the clubhouse space for your private event. The clubhouse may also have a pro shop, where you can conveniently purchase golf gear from top brands.
After watching the video below, you may develop a new appreciation for the convenience of a pro shop where you can regularly replace your balls.
Classy Environment
The members of a country club agree to a code of conduct that guides how people act and dress. These rules aren't burdensome; rather, they improve the golf experience for everyone. For example, policies about cell phone use relieve the worry that your golf game will be hung up by a discourteous golfer who keeps taking calls while on the course. Easy-to-follow clothing guidelines ensure that both members and their guests maintain a put-together appearance that transitions easily between the golf course and dining facilities.
Family Atmosphere
Whether you are the only golfer in your immediate family, or you're one of a house full of golfers, you will appreciate the family atmosphere of a country club. At many clubs, family members of all ages are welcome to join and participate in club life--both on the golf course and in the clubhouse. In fact, you may find that you are able to golf more than before because the whole family enjoys being at the country club. You can golf together, or the family can spread out to participate in separate activities.
Social Events
Country clubs are often known for their events, which can include socials, golf tournaments and parties. Throughout the year, members can stay busy at the country club. You may find activities for men, women, couples, kids or the whole family. The events may feature entertainment, food and drinks, friendly competitions, and opportunities to get to know other members. Those who enjoy planning events may be able to put their talents to good use by joining the club's social committee, which takes responsibility for organizing events.
New Friends
Between social events, time on the golf course, and meals in the clubhouse restaurant, there are many opportunities to make new friends at the country club. Many clubs have shed their reputation for stuffiness and are now welcoming, inclusive places, where the members will be glad to usher you into their circles. You may hit it off with others who have similar interests or careers, or you may find friends whose backgrounds are quite different from yours. At most golf clubs, many of the members have at least one unifying characteristic in common: a love for the game of golf!
Guest Opportunities
Most country clubs have guest policies that allow you to bring friends to the course with you. You can show them around and let them join you for a round of golf. Bringing a friend to visit your country club may pique their interest in becoming a member as well. This may give you the opportunity for another perk of club membership: the chance to help someone else become part of the country club family.
Which of these country club benefits will you most appreciate when you become a member? Some of the most popular benefits of joining a country club include fantastic golfing, impressive facilities, and social opportunities. The country club atmosphere simply can't be replicated at a public course; this experience is reserved exclusively for country club members, and joining a club is your ticket to enjoying it.