From Indoor Golf to Temporary Ice Rinks

Especially in colder climates, clubs continually look for ways to extend the seasons — giving members a reason to stay engaged and coming back throughout the year. From indoor golf to temporary ice rinks, Chambers’ team of club architects and designers are creating structural amenities to extend the seasons — and also have a host of suggestions for special events that will keep them coming back for more in all kinds of climates.

We’ll keep a running list of ideas and best practices to share. Send us your ideas and success stories — and photos of your best “off season” activities.

Structural

• Incorporate indoor golf simulators or hitting bays – keep the snowbirds from heading south for winter golf!
• Convert one or two of your tennis courts to an ice skating rink for the winter.  Portable skating rinks can be used there or in other easy-to-access outdoor spaces
• Or turn a flat, grassy area into hockey rink in winter
• Add or enhance outdoor rooms with fireplaces or fire pits

Events
There is a seemingly endless list of event ideas for engaging members throughout the year.
Don’t forget to send us yours!

For Winter…

• Host a charitable polar bear plunge in a golf course pond
• Offer sleigh rides followed by hot chocolate around the fireplace
• Invite kids for a night of indoor “camping”
• Host a Christmas tree-trimming party, sing carols and hold room decorating contests

…Summer

• Sneak in late night swim parties for adults, teens or ‘tweens
• Go outdoors to the golf course for a kids’ “camping” trip
• Host Spring floral contests — perhaps combined with a nature walk and tour of the club grounds’ landscaping highlights
• Carve out a section of the grounds for a community garden, then have a planting party

…or Anytime

• Host after-prom parties with movies or swimming
• Invite everyone for movie nights (indoors in winter, outdoors in summer) — supply the popcorn
• Hold concerts or other live performances
• Feature a fireworks displays to celebrate something other than July 4^th — like winter or summer solstice, a special community occasion or simply because it’s Thursday
• Host festivals that also invite nonmembers to support recruiting efforts — Spring, Harvest, Wine, Music and more
• Invite guests to host a cook-in dinner party for their friends –  an intimate dinner party they can cook themselves in the club’s kitchen (under supervision, of course)
• Offer wine pairing dinners, food or wine-themed dinners, wine tastings
• Rally the troops for game night – dinner and tables set up with favorite family games (can be adults only or family fare)

As clubs increasingly become an extension of their members’ day-to-day lives, there are a myriad of opportunities to add to bring members into the club.