For this group on the Top 61 list, the clubhouses are profiled for Inglewood Golf Club in Kenmore, Wash.; Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio; Fiddler’s Elbow in Bedminster, N.J.; Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club; Richmond County Country Club in Staten Island, N.Y.; and Country Club of Florida in Village of Golf, Fla.
Club + Resort Business has released its list of Top Ranked Clubhouses for 2021.
The rankings reflect the judges’ scoring of data provided on clubhouse square footage; locker room(s) data; event space and seating capacity; bar area(s) square footage; dining area(s) square footage; availability of outdoor dining; wine room/cellar; total dining and bar areas seating capacity; kitchen(s) square footage; pro shop square footage; fitness and wellness square footage; and whether a dedicated youth space is offered.
Entries also included descriptions submitted by the club and resort properties on why their clubhouses should be top ranked, and a full complement of supporting photos. The judges weighted the data and material provided to score all entries.
The entire list and details about all of the Top Ranked Clubhouses can be seen at https://clubandresortbusiness.com/club-resort-business-top-ranked-clubhouses/.
56. Inglewood Golf Club, Kenmore, Wash.
Inglewood Golf Club is a rare gem among Pacific Northwest Golf Clubs. It combines a spectacular setting, illustrious heritage, and a championship golf course to create the ultimate golfing experience. Our Clubhouse at Inglewood Golf Club should be top ranked for many reasons. Our clubhouse was built in 1926 after the original clubhouse built in 1919 burned down.
This club and clubhouse are laden with history, so much so that it’s considered a historical landmark by many. So many talented golfers passed through these doors, and many thousands of members have too. No two sources could agree on the nature of the architecture. Descriptions of the clubhouse style ranged from Southern Colonial to French Provincial to simply basic Spanish style.
Regardless of its architectural bent, Inglewood has a classic look and a regal presence. People drive through a funnel of trees to come face to face with a majestic 93-year-old clubhouse, which weaves its original Roaring 20’s theme with all the amenities of a 21st-century golf house.
With a newly remodeled women’s locker room, kitchen, and dining room, the Inglewood clubhouse is sure to impress even the most traveled golfer. The Inglewood clubhouse is scheduled to see more changes coming its way, thanks to the passionate membership committees who always are pushing to keep the beauty of the 1926 clubhouse and golf course, all while having state-of-the-art amenities within. The clubhouse is operated by a kind and caring staff who are dedicated to member satisfaction and the goal of delivering memorable experiences for everyone.
We don’t consider Inglewood to be “top ranked,” we consider Inglewood and its clubhouse to be “world class.” The graceful, timeless, elegance of the Clubhouse sets a high bar that most other Clubs cannot reach. We instill that ideology into everything we do here, making sure “world-class” resonates in every experience by all members, leading them to think nothing but the highest honors towards Inglewood Golf Club and our clubhouse.
57. Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio
With 60,000 sq. ft. of history and tranquility, the Firestone Clubhouse has gone through a transformation to thoughtfully reimagine luxury. The clubhouse is filled with golf’s past and present legends and serves as a majestic centerpiece that marries upscale amenities and an historic elegance.
Situated next to the famously known water tower, the clubhouse has evolved into an expansive and bustling venue that serves as a central hub for three world-class courses.
Firestone Country Club opened in 1929. The original clubhouse experienced a fire that required the Club to be rebuilt in 1958. Alongside of the club is the famously known Water Tower, which was built in 1958. Throughout the decades the club has been through major and minor updates and renovations.
The latest club updates consisted of updated guest rooms and the addition of an Italian Chophouse in April of 2021.
58. Fiddler’s Elbow, Bedminster, N.J.
Fiddler’s Elbow has become a premier resort style private club experience thanks in large part to its unique clubhouse that serves as the hub of most of the club’s social and dining experiences. Valet service is provided as you arrive at the front entrance. The look of the original manor house remains intact, so much so that Jerry Seinfeld used it in an episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee to depict the home of a wealthy family. Ironically, the clubhouse is anything but stuffy and is “home away from home” to a diverse, relaxed and fun-loving membership.
From a design and aesthetic point of view, the clubhouse is a masterpiece that marries old world charm with all the amenities and technology needed in today’s world. It is chameleon-like in its flexibility allowing it to house a wide range of activities, with multiple a la carte dining venues, a contemporary style wine cellar/speakeasy, state-of-the-art banquet room that hosts member events like wine club, cigar club, concerts, dances, comedy shows, and the like, charity, and golf outings and one of the finest, most in demand, wedding venues in the tri-state area. The vibe is seemingly turn of the century at times, and modern at others. To illustrate its flexibility, wine dinners have been hosted in the upscale Elbow Room Restaurant & Bar (where members have their own wine lockers), in the contemporary Speakeasy (wine cellar), in the ballroom and on its outdoor patio, and in the glass enclosed Conservatory. On a daily basis, the Elbow Bar routinely serves up exceptional and proprietary cocktails curated by highly talented and creative mixologists. The club even cans their own proprietary/branded drinks. The house seemingly changes its personality to fit the need of the event.
Behind the scenes, the clubhouse has been renovated in recent times to house three separate kitchens, each state of the art in every way possible to serve the diverse needs of the venue. On the main floor, the Elbow Room and Elbow Bar are considered among the finest a la carte restaurants in the private club world, under the direction of Executive Chef Michael Weisshaupt. More casual dining is available on the ground level at the 55th Hole Grill Room and Patio, and the main kitchen serves the ballroom and events that at times have included over 500 guests. For takeout, the house serves as home base for an extremely robust To Go program that offers a wide array of meals and branded “Elbow Grease” specialty drinks.
Speaking of flexibility, members may host private/intimate dinners in the Library, the Hunt Room, the Speakeasy or even in the Reagan Room, where President and Nancy Reagan slept upon their visit while campaigning in New Jersey. Fun Fact, Fiddler’s co-founder, Ray Donovan, served in two Reagan cabinets as Secretary of Labor.
So, events held at the clubhouse range in size from 2 to over 500. Actually, the clubhouse anchors the annual Fourth of July Festacular attended by more than 3,000 guests. And the house is also practical, with multiple meeting rooms for corporate members, flex space for members to work “off-site” and staff offices.
The beauty of the Fiddler’s clubhouse extends to outdoors as well, including many outdoor dining options attached to the upscale Elbow Room and casual Grill Patio as well as a covered ballroom patio extension, all with incredible scenic views of golf course and mountain vistas. There is even a Chef’s Garden where Chef Michael grows his own organic herbs and vegetables, and members can enjoy a rustic dining experience. And not to leave out the cigar smokers, there is an exclusive smoker’s area attached created just for cigar lovers that is also enjoyed by Cigar Club members that meet monthly to sample the latest in international cigars.
All in all, Fiddler’s Elbow is a special place with a mission to provide its members and guests with “Wow moments.” The clubhouse is home to these moments on a daily basis, so that each venue offers something for everyone.
It would be an honor to be acknowledged with your prestigious award and we are confident that our members and staff would appreciate the recognition.
59. Lancaster Country Club, Lancaster, Pa.
Established in 1900, the Lancaster Country Club is one of the oldest clubs in Pennsylvania and has continued its rich history and tradition of being the premier club destination for over 100 years. Through these years, our clubhouse has been home to defining moments that forever shaped the way our families and guests remember those precious times.
LCC: A Defining Moment project broke ground in 2020, a pivotal point in Lancaster Country Club’s history. The expansion project brings forth the next generation of first-class amenities for families creating a membership experience unparalleled in our region including a new casual-dining bistro, fitness center, group exercise room, indoor golf simulators with multi-sport versatility, children’s play area with childcare, outdoor kitchen and bar, and outdoor swimming pools.
Whether during a family day at the pool, a wedding celebration, or simply a memorable meal with friends and family, LCC’s Clubhouse continues to provide defining moments in people’s lives.
60. Richmond County Country Club, Staten Island, N.Y.
At Richmond County Country Club, members enjoy a fine balance of two unique style clubhouses. Our southern plantation inspired main clubhouse, captures two of the most historical a la carte dinner venues in the country; Our President’s Room, and Oak Bar were built in 1904. Once you enter both rooms, it takes you back in time with rich old-world charm consisting of hand crafted Chinese parquet floors, photos of past club Presidents dating back to 1888, and a feeling that embodies the traditions of the past.
Members dine near double-sided marble fireplaces with tall cathedral ceilings and an amazing view of the harbor. It is truly nostalgic! The Main Clubhouse also features state of the art pre-function and ballroom facility, an aquatics center, tennis pavilion, bocce courts, fitness center, and spa and locker room facilities.
Our golf clubhouse facility, is adjacent to our golf course, offers a contemporary style motif, which was recently renovated in 2021 to match the unique architectural design of the building.
Our golf clubhouse overlooks our newly restored course, designed by world renowned golf course architect, Ron Prichard. In this facility, members enjoy a fully stocked pro shop, locker rooms, an indoor golf simulator room, and lunch service with a cocktail after a round of golf.
61. Country Club of Florida, Village of Golf, Fla.
Understated, elegant, and true to their founder’s vision, The Country Club of Florida is a “place of gracious living, fine people, plenty of room, golf, and contentment” quote by Carleton Blunt, 1956.
With that vision in mind, the architects, and interior designers of Peacock + Lewis have been stewards of the Country Club of Florida since the original clubhouse designed in 2002. The clubhouse is designed in a timeless, low country style with one-story of the two-story structure built into the hill. Its location on the property is at the top of a ceremonial tree-lined bluff overlooking the closing holes of its Robert Bruce Harris designed golf course. Inside, the design is a casual traditional style with parlor scaled rooms to promote a quiet elegance for the members to comfortably enjoy their tropical winter retreat. The interior and exterior modifications to the clubhouse have kept up with changing club lifestyles embracing healthy, outdoor, and more casual experiences.
The club features both formal and casual dining venues with classic and elegant features. For those desiring a formal food and beverage experience, the dining room was designed with lighter painted millwork, a central fireplace, and telescoping walls to ‘right size’ the room and create an intimate setting for various sized functions. The 2021 1,928 sq. ft. casual dining renovation, known as the Pelican Grille, has a 21’ wide folding wall that overlooks a covered patio and the 18th green. Varied seating options keep members coming back to experience the room in different ways with cabaret tops, a marble top community table bar stools, and indoor and outdoor dining height tables. Lounge seating groups are fitted with a tea height table (24”) to accommodate tapas and charcuterie boards. The eat-at gathering bar is centered in the space. Constructed with the Mod Bar system access to plumbing and electrical is easily accomplished by removing the decorative wood panels on the outside of the bar allowing a continuous stainless-steel skirt to hide equipment legs and connections. The 1,508 sq. ft. Trellis built in 2007 was expanded by 1,850 sq. ft. to include two new patio spaces with Japanese Fern trees, firepits and lounge seating. Lighted trophy case and recognition boards celebrate member accomplishments. Large screen TVs are over the bar and centered on the painted pitched wood ceiling. Members gave overwhelming rave reviews. Even the skeptics have acknowledged they love it.
The Lifestyle Center provides members with a full range of services offered by much larger facilities. Comprehensive and complete, the members are offered a wide range of state-of-the-art Technogym training equipment, Pilates reformers, group fitness classes, spa treatments, physical therapy as well as a resort style lap pool. The P+L design team insured that this building had a harmonious and well-proportioned one-story appearance from the community road, keeping in line with the elegant ambiance of the clubhouse.
The Country Club of Florida offers the fine golf, dining, wellness, and social community envisioned by its founder to generations of devoted members. Holding true to their Midwestern heritage, the Club continues its tradition with a warm and friendly atmosphere.
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