Everything about Country Club totally explained
A
country club is a private
club which offers a variety of recreational
sports facilities, usually located in city outskirts or rural areas. Two of the most common types of facilities are
tennis and
golf clubs, although other sports such as
polo exist as well. An
athletic club is a similar club in an
urban setting where golfing facilities would be impractical. Country clubs usually provide dining and accommodation facilities to their members and guests, and frequently host catered events like weddings. Recreational options such as
swimming pools are also common.
Country club membership
Membership requirements vary greatly among different clubs, but generally a new member must be accepted or invited by current members, and pay a membership fee and monthly or yearly dues. At the most expensive U.S. clubs, membership fees can exceed $300,000. One example of this membership fee is the elitist
Southern Highlands Golf Club in
Las Vegas, NV.
The primary benefits of membership are:
- Access to private facilities (such as a golf course), which are usually better maintained and less crowded than public facilities.
- Inclusion in a social network of fellow members.
Golf club
A golf club is a private club organized to play
golf. A golf club usually has its own
golf course. Membership is usually by annual
subscription.
Tennis club
A tennis club is a private club organized to play
tennis. Tennis instruction is normally included, along with tournaments, and the club always has its own
tennis courts.
The United States
Country clubs can be exclusive organizations. In small towns, membership in the country club is often not as exclusive or expensive as in larger cities where there's competition for a limited number of memberships. In addition to the fees, some clubs have additional requirements to join. For example, membership can be limited to those who reside in a particular housing community. Prior to the late 20th century, some country clubs refused to admit members of minority racial groups, such as
African Americans,
Asian Americans, and non-white
Hispanic Americans, as well as members with specific faiths, such as
Jewish or
Catholic individuals. Later court challenges forced clubs to drop these policies, though clubs still exist that refuse membership to women. In addition, club membership is self-selective and people often choose to join clubs where they associate with people from similar socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
In one example, in
1990 professional golfer
Tom Watson resigned from the
Kansas City Country Club in
Mission Hills,
Kansas, in protest after local businessman and civic leader
Henry Bloch was denied membership. Watson believed the club denied Bloch because he was Jewish. Although Watson isn't Jewish, his then-wife and children are. After Watson's nationally-publicized protest, Bloch was offered a membership, which he accepted. Watson rejoined the club in
1995. Since that time The Kansas City Country Club has accepted several minority and Jewish members.
The
Augusta National Golf Club, where
The Masters golf tournament is played, is one of the best-known clubs that doesn't admit women.
United Kingdom
In the
United Kingdom, most exclusive country clubs are simply golf clubs, and play a smaller role in their communities than American country clubs;
gentlemen's clubs in Britain -- many of which admit women while remaining socially exclusive -- fill many roles of the country club in the United States. The issue of male-only clubs does, however, sometimes arouse controversy. On an episode of
Room 101 in
1995,
Jeremy Clarkson argued the case for the condemnation of golf clubs because of the mentality of those who frequent them.
Australia
Country clubs exist in multiple forms, including athletic based clubs and golf clubs. Notable examples are the
Breakfast Point Country Club in
Sydney,
Castle Hill Country Club,
The Gold Coast Polo & Country Club and the
Sanctuary Cove's Country Club.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Country Club'.
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