In a year both challenging and innovative, clubs across the country moved fast to bring their members the improvised facilities of 2020. In contrast to the facilities featured elsewhere in this issue—achievements mostly born of years of deliberate planning and significant investment— the examples that follow are all marked by quick, creative thinking and an economy of design.
These examples do not fit a mold. They did not break the bank. But do not overlook them—they might be here to stay.
THE LEARNING LAB
In late summer 2020, most schools in Alexandria, Va., were planning to start virtually, and parents at Belle Haven Country Club faced the grueling prospect of another semester troubleshooting their child’s Zoom connection.
Membership Director Sandra Sawin sensed the club was in a position to help. Following a lead from a member, Sawin and other club leaders met with the Little Scholars, a K-12 tutoring and academic support company. From that meeting was born the “Learning Lab”—a virtual learning classroom (and parental stress release valve) in Belle Haven’s ballroom. Equipped with distanced desks and Wi-Fi and run by a Little Scholars teacher, the lab shepherded club students through their virtual learning while also letting them blow off some steam around the club. Parents and kids were grateful for the time apart.
CAFÉ 1914
Café 1914, at the Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi, is the brainchild of General Manager Patrick Joyce, CCM, and executive chef (and former coffee shop entrepreneur) Damien Cavicchi. When the pandemic struck in March and 15,000-square-feet of the club’s interior function space suddenly sat empty, Joyce found opportunity to implement a concept he had long imagined for his club.
In what was a formal dining space, crews got to work in May building out a coffee bar and putting in Wi-Fi and seating, including high-top tables/workspaces with plugins and an air drop printer. Things were up and running in six weeks.
Joyce will admit to a passing resemblance to Starbucks, yes, but only at Café 1914 will you enjoy the confections of the in-house bakery team and, of course, that most Southern of delights—sweet tea.
DEDHAM BEER GARDEN AND MARKETPLACE
Dedham Country and Polo Club is an old-line Massachusetts club careful in the stewardship of their tradition. In other words, not the place you’d expect to find a pizza trailer parked on the lawn.
The pandemic lifted the inhibitions of Dedham leaders and led to the creation of a novel dining concept: “The Lawn,” a beer garden themed venue comprising comfortably spaced, locally crafted picnic tables and fire pits set under string lights and offering up pizza, burgers and wings among other casual fare. During the summer, the club partnered with local breweries to bring its members a variety of craft brew.
Not resting on the laurels, Dedham also set about in 2020 launching “Marketplace,” a commissary where members could purchase many in-house items ranging from chef-prepared meals to snack items like their signature beef jerky. Artisan breads and fresh produce also line the shelves as well as wines, soft drinks and household goods.
CHAMPION’S RUN ICE RINK
As winter closed in on Omaha and Champions Run, Creative Director Ben Lorenzen sought a way for members to embrace the chill. Enter the EZ Ice Rink, a backyard, clip-together ice rink system that promises assembly in just one hour.
The rink served the club well this past winter, hosting free-skating club events, hockey games and even curling, made possible by industrious staff who fashioned curling stones from concrete and mixing bowls.
THE NEW ADAPTIVE MODEL
Private clubs have long tread carefully in their approach to change. The pandemic, though, has shown a new path forward that balances this more traditional posture against the need to respond to member needs—with swift action, thoughtful design and prudent spending—in the here-and-now.