As many club properties focus on showcasing the social benefits of joining a club, Columbus (Ohio) Country Club has turned to film to tell the stories of its members.
The five-part film series is not only used to appeal to prospective members, but also highlights the members whose involvement with the club has resulted in lifelong connections.
“Our goal is to showcase the transformation of our club through members’ eyes,” says General Manager Jay Frank, PGA. “Rather than just showing an empty golf course and clubhouse to prospective members, we wanted to show the heart and soul of what it’s like to be a member.”
“We’re also reminding the folks who are here as to why this place is so special,” adds Rob DeMore, Vice President of Operations for Troon. “These are things you just can’t get [by taking a] tour or anywhere else.”
With the help of the Columbus-based Anecdote Film Co., the club has put together vignettes that are between two and four minutes long, combining interviews and voiceovers with footage of members’ interactions at the club. When filming first began, only a handful of members knew about the film series—and the success of the first film, which debuted last fall, has catapulted interest, says DeMore.
“The members are honored to be a part of it—they’re touched,” says Frank.
So far, the club has released two of the five short films. One, named “The Downeys” (see screenshots at right), documents the connection between a father and son. Another, “The Friday Group,” follows a group of golfers whose bond of good-natured ribbing extends beyond the club.
“We tried to capture the reactions and emotions, and there were some tears,” Frank says of members’ own reactions to the films. “We wanted to capture the fun and happiness they share here at the club.”
While golf is featured in the first two films, DeMore says those to come will focus more on community, family, and the pool scene. The third installment, which features a family that has seen three generations get married at the club, is set to be released in June. Filming for the final two films is ongoing, and DeMore says the series should be complete by December.
In addition to reinvigorating the membership, the films have facilitated the voluntary donation of $1 million from members toward the club’s next phase of restoration, which will help to improve its Donald Ross-designed golf course as well as the pool and tennis areas, Frank says.
The films, which are first released to members and can then be viewed by the public on Columbus CC’s YouTube channel, are included in a package that goes to prospective members.
“We’re showing what Columbus [CC] has been and what it will be,” Frank says. “It’s exciting to see the energy born from this—not just funds, but also involvement.”
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