For this group on the Top 41 list, the patios are profiled for Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer, Ill.; The Polo Club of Boca Raton (Fla.); Pauma Valley (Calif.) Country Club; Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, N.J.; The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Ind.; The Golf Club at Devils Tower in Hulett, Wyo.; Quail West Golf & Country Club in Naples, Fla.; The University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, Texas; The Bridgewater Club in Carmel, Ind.; and Summit Hills Country Club in Crestview Hills, Ky.
Club + Resort Business has released its list of Top Ranked Patios for 2021. The rankings reflect the ratings of club and resort properties that submitted entries, as judged independently by General Managers and Membership/Marketing Directors of several leading clubs.
The rankings reflect the judges’ scoring of data provided on patio square footage, both total and covered; total capacity and seating capacity; features such as outdoor ovens, firepits and outdoor bars/service stations; and average daily meal covers served on the patio.
Entries also included descriptions submitted by the club and resort properties on why their patio area should be top ranked, and a full complement of supporting photos.
The judges weighted the data and material provided to score all entries on a scale of 100.
The full rankings can be viewed on the main Top Ranked Listing Page. Here are profiles of the Nos. 16-25 Ranked Private Clubs in the Patios category.
#16 Kemper Lakes Golf Club; Kildeer, Ill.
The Kemper Lakes patio has brought many fond memories and echoes of laughter to many of the club’s members and guests. Depending on the time of day, the patio can be used to enjoy a sunrise breakfast or sunset dinner while overlooking a pristine, championship golf course and the Lakes of Kemper.
The patio and English-style gardens have eclectic beauty and are admired by everyone. Starting with the spring months, members and guests watch the annual and perennial gardens grow with an assortment of flowers while butterflies visit the blooms.
Kemper Lakes is well-known for its beautiful lakes and outdoor atmosphere. The patio is a top choice for outdoor dining in Kildeer and neighboring communities because of the attractive landscapes and multiple levels of dining areas, each offering its own unique view.
The Kemper Lakes patio is also a destination for small intimate gatherings, as well as a unique venue for wedding ceremonies and receptions.
#17 The Polo Club of Boca Raton; Boca Raton, Fla.
The Polo Club of Boca Raton strives to provide its members and their guests with the very best experiences, and there is no denying that every effort in providing those experiences is now drawing everyone more to the “great outdoors.”
The Polo Club’s Terrace features ingredient-driven menus and house-baked breads accompanied by a curated wine and cocktail list, fine-dining tableside service and live entertainment.
Members and guests can dine underneath the stars or under a retractable awning amid glimmering firepits, string lights, lanterns and an inspiring view of the putting green and lit fountains.
The Polo Club’s Terrace has quickly become members’ favorite place to meet friends for an evening cocktail, dinner or milestone celebration—and while everyone arrives for the amenity, they stay for the camaraderie.
The Polo Club team has been inspired by seeing how the community has come together to embrace new members in a year that has been less than ideal, and as part of that, the staff will continue to shift its focus towards making full and engaging use of all of the outdoor spots the club now has to offer.
#18 Pauma Valley Country Club; Pauma Valley, Calif.
Pauma Valley is a club with deep roots in California history, starting in 1960 with John Wayne’s ranch home being used as the first clubhouse. The actual clubhouse was erected in 1963 as a low-profile adobe structure, to fit in with the environment. Pauma is an Indian word for fresh water, and the club’s property embraces the meaning, with avocado and citrus groves throughout the valley.
In 2019, the clubhouse went through a major renovation with the goal of meeting the needs and wants of today’s active members with new amenities including an indoor/outdoor bar, fire pits and multiple TV sets, while remaining faithful to the property’s intended California Ranch style.
The bar area increased from a capacity of just six to an indoor/outdoor “flex bar” that now has 16 bar seats, 36 lounge seats, and 72 patio seats. The space features spectacular 180-degree views to the golf course and surrounding mountains. Up to 125 members and their guests can now enjoy the crisp clear weather on the patio throughout the year.
Pauma Valley’s patio is designed for outdoor entertainment and throughout the season, members can enjoy everything from solo guitarists to five-person country bands. In addition, an Old World-style courtyard area was created as a place for members to use their cell phones or just take a break from their fast-paced lives. The central fountain and adjacent olive trees create a serene ambience for members to enjoy private conversations, laptop work or just simple meditation.
Combined with the main terrace, the club’s new patio areas have created a new setting—what is now fondly known as “Pahhhma” Valley.
#19 Hollywood Golf Club; Deal, N.J.
Hollywood GC embarked on a renovation of its patio in 2018, and the timing turned out to be a boon during the pandemic, as it was utilized to its fullest.
The patio includes a built-in outdoor kitchen with two grills and a wood-fired pizza oven. There are also two separate firepit areas with great vistas of the golf course.
The covered side of the patio has the newest pergola system, which Hollywood GC was one of the first properties to install. It has a louvred system that can be opened and closed. In addition, it can be covered by the wind screens that allow undisturbed views, while also eliminating the wind and making for a comfortable experience.
The patio also has gas heaters along its length, to allow outdoor dining late into the fall season.
#20 The Club at Chatham Hills; Westfield, Ind.
The views from The Club at Chatham Hills’ back patio allow members and guests to watch golfers as they finish on the 9th hole and head over the Chatham bridge to tee off on the 10th. The views also overlook not only Chatham Hills’ immaculate short-game practice area and driving range, but also the Chatham Valley and out toward the north end of the community, which has over 85 feet of elevation changes.
The views are equally inspiring in the winter months, when a sledding hill, equipped with a commercial snowmaking machine, allows families to have a blast racing the hill and enjoying the firepits. Heated igloos that seat up to eight people each are also set up on the patio in the winter. Sipping on cocktails, enjoying apps and playing card games in the igloos, which are booked almost every day throughout the winter, have become new fun traditions for the membership.
In the spring, summer and fall, the club uses the patio for fabulous soirees, rocking out to live music, dinner parties galore and hosting large club events like the annual Oktoberfest and “Red, White & Boom” event. Recently a meet-and-greet for the local Indianapolis baseball team was held where members and their families were able to come out to the patio, meet the players and get balls signed, and everyone enjoyed baseball-themed inflatables and activities, and concession stand-style food and drinks.
The patio is also a beautiful spot for wedding ceremonies, with the lush landscapes providing the perfect backdrop. All of the club’s golf events are also held on the patio, featuring a DJ, food trucks, golf contests from the patio to the short-game area, bourbon tastings, and more.
The Club at Chatham Hills has also held early-morning yoga classes on its patio, as well as group stretches before runners head out for 5Ks within the community.
Two restaurants at opposite ends of the clubhouse service out to the patio, where members and their guests love to dine. The more casual concept is called ‘Chats on the Hill’ and the more upscale concept is called ‘Hamilton’s.’ The patio has great coverage and some areas have ceiling heaters to help extend outdoor dining in cooler seasons. Plush throws are also made available to members, to take with them on their way out to the firepits in the evening.
With all of these features and amenities, the patio at The Club at Chatham Hills has really become the spot for the community and membership to gather and make memories.
#21 The Golf Club at Devils Tower; Hulett, Wyo.
With an unmatched view of the golf course and surrounding picturesque Wyoming landscape, the patio views at The Golf Club at Devils Tower can only be beaten by the service. The patio has become a must-stop Black Hills destination, where wildlife can often be spotted and the evening Wyoming sky is a must-see. Relaxing on the elevated deck or at the firepit after a round of golf brings a true sense of calm and escape.
The design of The Golf Club at Devils Tower’s clubhouse and surrounding area was intended to celebrate the rich history of the area and tie together a charming exterior with special interior touches. Members can enjoy a beverage or food selections from the highly rated 77 Steakhouse & Saloon restaurant and also peek inside at the club’s restored Historic Bar from the 1890s and view local Western artifacts.
The main level of the clubhouse, being only 6,000 sq. ft., has been planned to maximize efficiency and flexibility. Separating the breezeway from the grill with a sliding glass wall allows the facility to expand from 60 patrons to 200. Additionally, these two spaces can also house different functions at the same time.
The covered porches provide excellent views and additional exterior dining options. Patrons visiting the clubhouse often work their way through the clubhouse displays and artifacts and end up at the main showpiece, The Bar. The bar area anchors the clubhouse main level, with an elevated outdoor deck, while overlooking a firepit and the 10th and 18th holes.
The largest building material component of the clubhouse also happens to be its most sustainable and environmentally responsible element. The local sawmill in Hulett, Wyo. supports the majority of the population (383) in the quaint town. One primary focus of the mill is the harvest and milling of Ponderosa Pine.
The majority of the clubhouse is constructed of wood framing and the majority of these wooden elements were harvested and milled locally. The local material, and detail within the material, is most visible in the exterior siding, ceilings, breezeway flooring, and the wrap-around covered porches.
#22 Quail West Golf & Country Club; Naples, Fla.
The Cypress Grille Patio at Quail West was intuitively inspired to maximize the benefits of the balmy sub-tropical Florida climate. Quail West’s newly fashioned, ADA-compliant, expansive casual outdoor dining and relaxation space creates the perfect setting for all members to enjoy al fresco culinary creations with friends and family, or just unwind with signature crafted cocktails.
Positioned between the picturesque starting and finishing holes of the club’s acclaimed Preserve golf course, and overlooking an expansive, sparkling lake fringed with palm trees, the Cypress Grille patio provides the ultimate destination for member dining.
The incorporation of creative custom lighting and superior hard and soft finishes provides the ultimate welcoming ambiance. Masterfully designed to not only accommodate the needs of the most discerning members in both comfort and style, but also to ensure optimum functionality in set-up and service, the Cypress Grille Patio offers numerous alternatives:
– The marble-clad, horseshoe-shaped bar seamlessly transitions from indoors to outdoors and is equipped with plush bar stools and multiple TV screens, providing the perfect 19th hole and Happy Hour experience.
– Lightweight, stylish dining furniture, incorporating soothing neutral tones, is positioned throughout the wrap-around terrace area, ensuring flexibility in accommodating dining configurations of all sizes, under cover or under the stars.
– Comfortable and inviting seating groups centered around numerous firepits provide a focal point, encouraging conversation, relaxation and socializing.
With ample space to accommodate culinary action stations, regular musical entertainment, dancing, and impromptu celebrations, the Cypress Grille Patio has firmly established itself as the dining destination of choice for Quail West’s members and their guests.
#23 The University of Texas Golf Club; Austin, Texas
The ‘Back Forty’ patio at The University of Texas Golf Club is the hub of the club, and reservations to utilize the outdoor dining area at an all-time high.
The patio area has the flexibility to host inside/outside weddings of up to 450 people, have live music on a stage off the back, or to simply enjoy the tranquility of sipping a drink while watching the golfers come to the 18th green of the club’s championship golf course and enjoying the backdrop of Lake Austin, the Balcones Natural Wildlife Preserve and the Texas Hill Country.
However it’s used, the UT Golf Club patio has become the ideal place to be for members and their guests.
#24 The Bridgewater Club; Carmel, Ind.
The Bridgewater Club underwent extensive facility renovations in 2020, through projects that paid close attention to details and amenities that would improve the member experience. Working with Parini Design, the focus was on imagining new ways for members to engage with and enjoy the club from dusk until dawn.
The new patio space was positioned to overlook one of the club’s pristine vistas, which aligns with The Bridgewater Club’s proudest and most notable feature, the 18-hole championship golf course designed by the legendary architect, Pete Dye.
The combination of thoughtfully placed fire features, paired with chic and comfortable seating arrangements, a unique patio menu and drink offerings, and the ambiance of live music under the Indiana skies, now make The Bridgewater Club’s patio a perfect gathering place for members, where families and friends can create new memories throughout the spring, summer and fall.
The patio, which also serves as a desirable venue for private events, has received rave reviews from members. As one member commented: “The new patio has become one of our favorite respites to enjoy after a great week at the club. As a busy family, we spread across the various activities from summer camp to fitness classes and golf, and always look forward to wrapping up the week with a beautiful view, live music, great food and our favorite people on the patio, while overlooking such an impressive Midwest golf course.”
#25 Summit Hills Country Club; Crestview Hills, Ky.
Summit Hills built its new patio in the year prior to the pandemic. The patio opened on July 4th, 2019, and as described in the cover story of Club + Resort Business’ September 2020 issue (“Reaching New Heights at Summit Hills CC”), the ability to use the patio space after COVID hit not only served to help steer the club through the year, but soar to unprecedented levels of business activity and membership.
Summit Hills has never been as busy as during 2020 and the first half of 2021, with food-and-beverage sales higher than ever. The outdoor patio has become the talk of northern Kentucky and has been a major reason why the club now has a waiting list for full membership. Six outdoor weddings have also been sold largely as a result of the appeal of the club’s new outdoor dining area.
Additionally, Summit Hills allows Monday golf outings to utilize the patio area, proving to be another game-changer in attracting that business.
For the membership, Friday Night Music is held on the patio from May through September and is always sold out. The outdoor patio is also used for the club’s Member-Guest and Golf Date Nights, and has become the place to be for regular member a la carte dining as well.
Further proof of the value of the patio and its fortunate timing came during the fall of 2020, when members could not attend Cincinnati Bengals football games because of pandemic-imposed attendance restrictions. The club used the patio area for popular Tailgate Parties and game watching, once again demonstrating how the new patio has really changed the club and that it could not have picked a better time to have expanded its outdoor dining capabilities.
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