CIB: 10-8-25 | National Club Association

CIB: Private Clubs are Bringing a Members-Only Experience to America's Midsize Cities

Published on: October 8, 2025

Club Insider Brief: Oct. 8, 2025

Club Insider Brief (CIB) covers what we’re reading, what private clubs are doing, governance solutions, golf/racquet/yacht trends, F&B, unlocked NCA articles and legal updates. It's a must-read for all club staff and leaders—and remains a free benefit for the entire club community.

What We're Reading Now

Private Club News: Private Clubs are Bringing a Members-Only Experience to America's Midsize Cities, Wall Street Journal
On the Green: Golf's Private Side, National Golf Foundation
On the Green: A Different Kind of 'Ryder Cup' at the Country Club of North Carolina, Forbes
Club Trends: Getting AI in Tune with What Clubs Need

Private Club News

Historic Shreveport Country Club Goes Up in Flames, KSLA
Kalamazoo Country Club to Expand Offerings with 'World-Class' Racket Facility, MLive
Young Man Charged with Felony Assault at East Greenwich Country Club, MSN
Tribal Leaders Say Water Diversion for Golf Course Impacting Snoqualmie River, KATU
Frog Rock Golf and Country Club's Main Clubhouse Destroyed in Fire, Officials Say, CBS News
Late Golf Legend Bob Eames Left Lasting Legacy at Yellowstone Country Club and Beyond, Montana Sports
Boom in Private Clubs Highlights Tensions Between Belonging and Exclusion, Aspen Journalism
Club Endowments: A Potentially Significant Revenue Source, Club Director (NCA member-only content)

Upcoming NCA Events

October 23, 2PM ET: “Disaster Readiness, Response and Recovery: Lessons from Club Leaders” (included in your NCA membership)
NCA Club Leaders, October 27, Addison Reserve Country Club, Delray Beach, Fla.: Designed specifically for general managers and their board members—join us for a day of learning, governance insights and networking. Learn more.

On the Green

Why PGA Tour Pros Love the Country Club of Jackson's Greens at Sanderson Farms Championship, Des Moines Register
When Your Backyard Becomes a Movement: The Chapel Golf Club Story, Athlon Sports
Golfers Step Back in Time for 18th Annual U.S. Hickory Open at Hot Springs Country Club, The Sentinel-Record

On the Water

Racquets

Is Pickleball Fever Cooling? If Columbus is Any Indicator, the Answer is 'No,' The Columbus Dispatch
Essex Country Club Submits Plans for Air Dome to Allow Use of Tennis Courts in Winter, MSN
Eyes on the Service Box: Private Clubs See Squash Thrive, Club Director (NCA member-only content)

Renovations

Governance

Thriving Through Leadership: How Today's Boards can Secure Tomorrow's Clubs, Club Director (NCA member-only content)

Legal

WWU: Senate Labor Panel Holds Hearing on Federal Labor Reforms, (NCA member-only content)
NJ Minimum Wage to go up, NJ Spotlight News

From the Vault (unlocked NCA content)

Winter Wonderland

Membership

Protecting Club Culture: Addressing Member Behavior, KKW

Food & Beverage

F&B Whitepaper: Impact on Financial Outcomes, Club Benchmarking
The Top 25 Restaurant Trends that Defined the Past 25 Years, Food & Wine

NCA Welcomes New Members in September

Naples Lake Country Club, Naples, Fla.
Emerald Dunes Club, West Palm Beach, Fla.
The Piedmont Club, Spartanburg, S.C.
Pinnacle Peak Country Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club, Menlo Park, Calif.
The Valley Hunt Club, Pasadena, Calif.
Dallas Petroleum Club, Dallas, Texas
Desert Mountain Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Cuisine U, Boca Raton, Fla.

Join Your Peers at the Inaugural NCA Club Leaders Event

Only a few weeks away! Register today to join us October 27, for a one-day event designed specifically for general managers and their board members, hosted at the prestigious Addison Reserve Country Club. Top club executives and board members will focus on effective governance and innovative management strategies. Learn more.

Join NCA and Access the Industry's Top Resources for Private Club Leaders

Join NCA today and elevate your club with exclusive resources and insights! As a member of NCA, you’ll join a thriving network of clubs where member engagement, excellence in service and innovative practices are the cornerstones of a vibrant and sustainable club culture. Contact Katina Cavagnaro at 202-822-1291 to join today.