I can remember being a little girl visiting the country club of my grandparents friends. There was no pretentiousness, but the laughter of my grandparents and their friends reminiscing. For me, is reminds me of great meals and witty banter. It was a place where my grandparents talked warmly of memories all while being framed in oak paneled walls and beautiful etchings.
A few of my friends belong to clubs already. They started out on a membership with their parents and after college now have their own. Soon it will be their turn to pass the torch. Unfortunately, many of my generation don't see the point. To them, a country club is a stodgy place with no DJ and where old men sit in leather armchairs and drink scotch talking about "the good ol' days". Hardly a place laughs and party rocking. I believe that they couldn't be more wrong. While no one will be doing shots, it is still very much a place for camaraderie and where friendships are made.
From both my own research and my estimation country/yacht/golf clubs hit a boom in popularity and membership every thirty years. It is my sincere hope that my generation will take out their ear buds long enough to hear the call.
Being a member in a country club has too many benefits in terms of friends and even health... unless you end a bottle of gin alone each time there lol.
ReplyDeletePrecisely. I eventually will belong to one because there are so many benefits. It just seems like people in our age groups don't have an interest.
DeleteI feel like part of the problem is that many country clubs seem past their prime. My late grandfather was on the board of his country club, and in those days, there was always something going on. My grandmother's photo albums are filled with pictures from lively parties (some formal, some that would rival any fraternity party). Nowadays, many country clubs seem rather dead. Sure, there's a golf course, but it's often no better than the public one. Sure, there's a swimming pool, but everyone has a private one in their own yard. Sure, there's a dining room, but depending on the club, the offerings may be less than inspiring. Without any events to bring the club together, many of the benefits that you so beautifully described disappear (particularly for potential new members still looking to get better acquainted with the established families). People our age are interested in country clubs, but only if they offer something beyond a dining room and mediocre golf course.
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DeleteTrue. My hope, as I stated above, is that this changes.
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