The following is a post by MPFJ staff writer, Sally, the blogger behind TinyApartmentDesign.com, a blog about design, living well, and simple, tiny spaces. Enjoy!
My first introduction to country clubs was the classic Simpsons episode “Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield”, when Marge buys a discounted pink Chanel suit and soon ends up spending time with the idle rich of Springfield Country Club.
I’ve since spent lots of time around the “clubs”, whether I was working there (as a hostess one summer) or visiting for work and alumni functions. In California, there are a number of prestigious clubs, which may not be as old as East Coast clubs, but are still heavyweights with big price tags for memberships, like the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, the Jonathan Club, and the Bel Air Bay Club, to name a few. There are also plenty of yacht clubs and country clubs with hefty admissions fees (usually a one-time fee) and ongoing annual dues. Some of these clubs have the added social clout that require one or two current members to “sponsor” or nominate the potential member into the club’s ranks. If it all sounds very exclusive, well, it was designed to be that way. Country clubs and other private clubs are pretty much know for exclusivity, promoting a homogenous membership (if not racially, then socioeconomically) and associating among themselves. Think “Not Our Kind, Dear” and other heavily entitled phrases used flippantly.
So, why would you ever want to join a country club? Well, there’s the golf, tennis and swimming facilities. Many have a club restaurant, and it can become a place for all of your social gatherings. One acquaintance who’s been a country club member since birth explained why he and his wife are now becoming full members into the same club: they have all of their family gatherings at the club, celebrate lots of holidays at the club, many of their friends are members of the club. It’s not a lifestyle I can relate to exactly, but I understand the comfort factor, and the convenience factor.
The actual cost varies wildly. Some clubs in Southern California have a smaller initiation fee and annual dues, like $10,000 and $3,000, respectively. Others are known for $60,000+ fees for a full member plus $10,000 in annual dues. On top of that, some clubs may require you spend a certain amount each month in the restaurant and pro shop. This is definitely a luxury expense unless the cost of playing tennis or golf in your area is much higher on a per-use basis than joining a club. But I’ve never seen an area that doesn’t have at least one public tennis court and a public golf course with reasonable fees. Personally, while the idea of belonging to a club is appealing, and I like the thought of taking friends and out of town guests to my club, I don’t think I would ever join any club just because of its long history of exclusion and segregation.
How about you all? What do you think, would you join a country club or are you already a member?
Share your experiences by commenting below!
***Image: http://www.freeimages.com/photo/1369498
