Name:  Eben Molloy, CCM

Club:  Farmington Country Club

Description:  Farmington’s Children’s Place created a faces wall featuring the kids of members who frequently use the facility.  On the faces wall are photos with a description of each child’s unique interests and personal information.  The wall is a great way for kids to get to know each other better.  It is also a convenient way for staff to recognize kids and cater their activities to the child.

Implementation:  The faces wall is created in h9ouse by the Youth Activities Coordinator.  It is very popular with the kids and makes them feel special.  They love to see their pictures hanging on the wall.  The members really appreciate that their child’s interests are important to The Children’s Place and are documented in this fun way.

Name:  Craig Martin

Club:  The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa

Description:  Making Life Memories – It has allowed us to capture our junior members.  Community resources has allowed us to enhance the overall program.

Implementation:  It was incorporated into our initial kids program.  We have captured additional members through this program alone.

Name:  Jennifer Mitchell

Club:  Country Club of Landfall

Description:  Every club faces the issue of bringing in and enticing younger members.  We began our kids club in April ’06 and have not only had a more active younger membership but changed the demographic completely.

Implementation:  The members are thrilled.  Grandparents can enjoy time with adult family members while the children are entertained.  We offer unique activities.

Name:  Stephen M. Downes

Club:  The Carnegie Abbey Club

Description:  Having a strong youth program promotes the “Family Club” image and attracts members to use their club.  Potential new members also look to what is being offered for children.  Our programs add value to our membership.

Implementation:  The Youth Camp has tripled in size over the past 3 years.  Our club is becoming, transforming to a “Family Club”.  Our programs ensure that our children have the opportunity to keep busy and have fun.  Parents in turn can be sure their children are well cared for.

Name:  Mary Elizabeth Sullivan

Club:  Granite Club

Description:  The behavior of some children in the family dining room was becoming a disturbance to other members.  IN addition, staff were concerned about safety in an area where hot beverages are poured and heavy dishes and trays are carried.  In an effort to resolve this issue, staff developed dining etiquette classes at eh club to assist children in understanding acceptable etiquette and behavior in a dining room.

Implementation:  To address this need, a dining etiquette class for children ages 4-12 years was developed.  This class, lead by the Restaurant Manager, offers instruction on the proper behavior and manners expected during a three-course meal and aids in developing children’s social skills, confidence and poise.  This introductory course included understanding the different types of cutlery and their function; the type of glass, its use and how they are held; importance of dress code and education on healthy meal choices. 

Name:  Bruce W. Pruitt, CCM

Club:  The Los Angeles Country Club

Description:  With nearly 110 years of tradition, The Los Angeles Country Club had been stereotyped as not being “child friendly”, a place that children were expected to be seen and not necessarily hear.  The Club has made an exhaustive effort to design and offer programs for families with young children that will introduce them to the mainstream of the Club environment…so that the Club becomes part of their everyday lives! 

Implementation:  As families become more involved with the Club, they encourage other families that are members to join in.  The acceptance and attendance has been quite positive.  Families as a whole are feeling more relaxed at their Club and the Club is developing a reputation of being family friendly.

Name:  Tommy Janney

Club:  The Country Club of Virginia

Description:  Fall Hayride – A tractor and trailer were laded with bales of straw for junior members to enjoy a hayride around the golf course on a beautiful fall night.  The evening included a DJ, carnival games, and hot chocolate.

Name:  Mary Elizabeth Sullivan

Club:  Granite Club

Description:  This service began as a method of extending the club’s convenience and ‘home away from home’ philosophy by providing premium supplemental education services to members at the club.  Members in Kindergarten to Grade 12 can obtain academic upgrading and tutoring in all subjects, as well as SAT preparation, academic assessments and even high school credit courses  Students are taught individually by qualified, professional teachers and tutors.

Implementation:  Educational services are provided at the club by an established Canadian supplemental education provider.  Using a third party professional service provider ensures a high level of quality, consistency and credibility.  In addition, a third party has the expertise to deal with the specific educational and social issues involved.  Our service provider supplies all teaching staff, handles scheduling, and deals directly with members, parents and school teachers.  Club staff are not involved in actually delivering the services.

Name:  Loraine Ellis Vienne

Club:  The Peninsula Yacht Club

Description:  Kids Club Summer Camp Program ahs been designed to give all member’s children an introduction to the yacht club by teaching boating skills, land games and arts and crafts along with a swimming program.  We offer a toddler camp and 10 week sessions of various ages – older children end their week with a white water rafting trip.  We have been sold out the past two summers.

Implementation:  This camp started as a two week program 2 years ago.  We are now sold out in advance and have had to add additional programs to accommodate the needs of our members.  This year we will add a snake and lizard science week.  Members start calling in January to sign up.  This has really brought our youth into the club.

Name:  Tommy Janney

Club:  The Country Club of Virginia

Description:  Gone Fishin’ – A local professional fishing instructor took our junior members, ages seven to ten years, out to our stocked golf course ponds and taught them to bait, catch, and release fish.  The youth enjoyed a traditional sport in an outdoor learning environment.

Name:  Miles Tucker

Club:  Sand Creek Country Club

Description:  In 2006, Sand Creek Country Club introduced a dynamic junior recreation program to its membership.  The program featured a successful fist annual summer kids camp with complementary monthly activities available to our young members and their guests.  Some of the benefits included 1.) $10,000 additional revenue, 2.) greater member participation throughout the club, 3.) staff growth, development, utilization, and retention.

Implementation:  To build enthusiasm we communicated using a broad range of initiatives, including: a.) personalized letters and invitations accustomed to each individual child and sent via postage mail, b.) weekly email updates to parents and kids, c.) graphic advertisements strategically displayed in the areas of the club most heavily used by the kids, d.) monthly member newsletter recognition.

Name:  Gerald Marvel

Club:  Spindletop Hall

Description:  The idea cam from one of our goals which is to provide fun and educational events.  The American girl dolls are a wealth of information and education on world history and etiquette.  The series has created member satisfaction with youth events.  Members are proud to bring their guests to these unique and sought after events since we are the only club that showcases this type of event.

Implementation:  Every other month a special event is planned for a doll of a different time period in history.  The event is accompanied by a  meal that is specifically tailored toward each time period, and the girls participate in a fun planned activity such as watching an American Girl movie or making friendship bracelets, also by watching dog shows. 

Name:  Jonathan McCabe

Club:  Union League Club of Chicago

Description:  This program is an extension of the club’s motto “Commitment to Community and Country”.  The program allowed the club to reach out and connect with Chicago Public School students in a positive way.

Implementation:  The members were extremely pleased to learn that Chicago Public School students spent a day at the club.  In addition, the story received coverage in several Chicago newspapers.