Clubs Step Up Outdoor Amenities With Refreshed Patios

The Nelson Golf & Sports Club

The golf course may reign supreme, but players fresh off the green are ready to relax and unwind in a comfortable setting. Patios provide a natural extension for al fresco socializing and dining, and with more clubs adding these facilities to their master renovation plans, they have become a true destination.

Staycation Renovation

Members are enjoying their first full season on the newly renovated patio at The Nelson Golf & Sports Club. The Irving, Texas, facility embarked on this project last July and completed a full-fledged expansion this past March, resulting in more room to entertain their guests while dining at the club.

Situated on the east side of the clubhouse, parallel to the first tee at TPC Las Colinas, the 7,000-sq.-ft. space is designed for year-round usage and has been enhanced with a greater mix of seating options. A maximum occupancy of 170 patrons is permitted at dining tables and soft seating around the fire pit area. “This is a large increase from both [areas], from the original 75 with two smaller fire pits to 40 tables with six fire pits,” says Director of Membership Experience Kristina Karoll.

“We incorporated subtle touches of warm gray in the pavers and sofa sectionals, along with a dark bronze structure to add visual interest and activity.” – Kristina Karoll, Director of Membership Experience, The Nelson Golf & Sports Club in Irving, Texas

Furnishings for this space were chosen for their durability and visual appeal. Chairs are fashioned from woven resin, while generously sized, eco wood tables were selected for their ability to withstand the elements. Arm and armless chairs are highly functional and family-friendly; a design choice that has been well received for its ease of maintenance. (Small gaps in the seat allow food particles to fall through, “eliminating the need to vacuum out what would otherwise be a crumb-catching space,” notes Karoll.)

Meanwhile, sectional seating in the fire pit area offers a cozy spot for colder nights. “We worked within the constraints of the existing structure, establishing a warm palette of tans and browns for the decking, structure and furniture,” explains Karoll. “We incorporated subtle touches of warm grey in the pavers and sofa sectionals, along with a dark bronze structure, to add visual interest and activity.”

Underfoot, pavers in three different tones complement the ambient lighting with adjustable settings, while landscape illumination throughout the patio area adds to the atmosphere. During the daylight hours when the Texas sun beats down, a high-ceiling awning protects guests from the relentless heat without obstructing views of the golf course. Karoll also points out the covering’s capability for mounting fans and heaters in the existing set-up. “The awning allows for the future addition of weatherproof walls or screening if needed for rain protection or to retain heat,” she adds.

To keep the newly renovated patio in mint condition, the grounds team is responsible for daily debris removal and the maintenance crew pressure washes the decking every week. Such upkeep is essential, given the patio’s usefulness; besides member dining, this space hosts the club’s monthly member appreciation events, complete with food and beverage tastings and live music. “It encourages our members to come out to the club and use this great new space,” says Karoll.

And if the latest member feedback is any indication of the patio’s success, then it has clearly become a go-to spot. “This amazing space allows me and my friends to feel like we’re on vacation every day…what a great place to spend our evenings having dinner and drinks together,” says longtime member Julie Galjour.

Music to Their Ears

“The entire patio was designed for the membership to enjoy an outdoor dining experience while being at the center of the club’s activity.” – Mindy Saban, Director of Communications & Membership Services, Edgewood Valley Country Club in Burr Ridge, Ill.

The sounds of live instruments intermingle with laughter and chattering voices on a balmy summer night. It’s the perfect setting at Edgewood Valley Country Club in Burr Ridge, Ill., where members and their guests are enjoying a newly upgraded patio that opened last August. The project was part of the $18 million Elevate Edgewood renovation of the clubhouse and surrounding amenities. “The entire patio was designed for the membership to enjoy an outdoor dining experience while being at the center of the club’s activity,” says Mindy Saban, Director of Communications & Membership Services.

To accommodate a larger footprint, the original patio was demolished, along with the back of the clubhouse. A freshly poured foundation allowed for an elevated back area with expansive views and convenient entry points. On the north side of the clubhouse, golfers coming off the course have direct access to the new indoor/outdoor bar, while the west side looks out onto the first tee and pool area.

Saban describes the patio’s style as a “modern vibe in a relaxed country club atmosphere.” Light slate tones accented by a dark grey inlet on the patio columns pair nicely with neutral-toned furniture that reflects the updated Tudor-style clubhouse. Adding warmth and character to this space are five streetlights lining the perimeter, and large sconces built into the brick columns provide adjustable illumination.

Expansive seating is a major draw, which has increased the patio’s maximum capacity from 96 to 166. Members can take their pick of seats: soft-wicker chairs at the bar and high-top tables, hardbacked chairs with cushioned seats and oversized low chairs with cushioned backs and bottoms at three cozy fire pits. Covered and heated seating is also available on the second-floor terrace, which extends the patio season well into the fall.

In addition to daytime patio usage, Edgewood Valley members can partake of the new space on Thursday evenings during the summer live music series. Saban notes that regulars and their guests have been making good use of this new set-up and are looking forward to an active season outdoors.   

Endless Potential

“The possibilities are truly endless for what we can do with the spaces.” – Cassie Sepp, Director of Marketing, Sea Trail Golf Resort in Sunset Beach, N.C.

As the sun sets over the Carolina coast, the party gets underway on the patios at Sea Trail Golf Resort. The Sunset Beach, N.C., facility unveiled two updated spaces this past February: The Front Pergola and The Overlook. Both upgrades fulfilled the project’s intended goal, as outlined by Cassie Sepp, Director of Marketing, East Coast Golf Management: “to elevate the guest experience and highlight our scenic transformed back patio.”

The 4,200-sq.-ft. Front Pergola greets guests en route to the resort’s new dining venue, Sunset Prime. Giving purpose to its name, a central pergola is equipped with multiple fire pits and soft lounge seating, as well as high-top tables, for hosting private events. Durable decking with artificial turf squares provides a comfortable surface for mingling guests. Standing pole lanterns and string lights around the pergola enhance the ambiance of this socializing hot spot.

While the dimensions of the front patio remained intact, The Overlook underwent a major transformation. A full teardown and rebuild paved the way for a two-tiered, 3,025-sq.-ft. structure, serving as Sunset Prime’s primary outdoor dining venue. A fully covered, U-shaped bar bridges the gap between indoor and outdoor dining, enhanced by high-top tables and ledge bar seating. On the lower level, uncovered lounge seating, colorful Adirondack chairs and gas fire pits create a casual vibe for cocktails and small plates.

Sea Trail Golf Resort

Both patios can host upwards of 200 patrons apiece—a major boost in particular for The Overlook. “Previously, access was restricted due to steep, winding stairs that presented challenges for many guests,” notes Sepp. This walkway provides easy access to other resort amenities, including the practice putting green, turn house and convention center. Pathway lighting installed within the landscaping does double duty for its aesthetics and safety.

Carrying over Sea Trail’s contemporary clubhouse styling is a palette of clean whites and blacks, with punchy reds and oranges matching the Sunset Prime logo and mirroring the stunning sunsets. Speaking of natural surroundings, climate control is practically a non-issue at Sea Trail. Whirling ceiling fans cool down the covered portions, while the open-air design circulates the breeze off the water. And in the winter, mild temperatures alleviate the need for heaters, with fire pits taking the chill out of nighttime lows.

Since the opening of the updated patios, Sea Trail’s guests have been making good use of both spaces. Live music is featured twice weekly on The Overlook, while the Front Pergola plays home to wine tastings, business social hours, cocktail parties and rehearsal dinners. “The possibilities are truly endless for what we can do with the spaces,” says Sepp. C+RB