Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Campbell resident Keith Chapin putts on the green at the fourth hole of the Saratoga Country Club.
Country club bills itself as being family friendly
By Rebecca Ray
At the Saratoga Country Club, tucked away in the hills of Saratoga at 21990 Prospect Road, the head of the household isn't the only one who enjoys full privileges. Unlike some country clubs, where one spouse--usually the husband--chooses to be the primary member, and the other spouse and the couple's children receive fewer privileges, this country club allows members of all ages to have unlimited use of its facilities.
"One of the most outstanding things about this club is that women have always had an active part in it," said San Jose resident Betty Lovelace, 78, who has been a full member of the club for at least 30 years.
Women have served on the club's board of directors, including the chair position, and as presidents of the club, said club President Rich Burton.
At this club, there are no primary memberships. Spouses have jointly owned memberships since the club was incorporated in 1958. Remarried spouses automatically receive full rights and privileges.
Children and young adults can use any part of the club as long as they have the ability and knowledge of the activity, and are legally old enough to participate. Members can't drive golf carts until they're 16, but any person can play on the 40-acre golf course, as long as he or she maintains the pace of the game, and knows the rules and etiquette of the sport. The club also does not restrict the hours that teens and children can use their facilities, General Manager Joe Callan said.
The club, which sits on about 100 acres of land and was renovated in 1999 and 2000, and has a two-story, tan-colored stucco clubhouse that overlooks a junior Olympic-sized pool and the Saratoga hills. In addition to a dining room, lounge and men's and women's locker rooms, the clubhouse contains a new exercise room, conference rooms, offices and break-out room that can be used for smaller functions, such as business meetings. The clubhouse also has a wheelchair-accessible elevator that stops on every level.
The kitchen has been expanded to twice its former size to include two lines--a cooked-to-order line and a banquet line--so that two events can be hosted at the same time.
Instead of having 18 holes as the golf courses at most clubs, this course has nine holes with double tees. Golfers then can get different views of the holes each time they play, and learn how to play different angles. Two golf pros give lessons to members and nonmembers, usually at the driving range.
In addition, the grounds have been recently landscaped. The club has a new golf pro shop; six tennis courts, three of which can be lit at night, where two tennis pros give lessons; and a site outside with a gazebo where weddings and memorial services are held.
"It's interesting to work in a place where there's that many things going on," said Callan, who has belonged to the club for almost 24 years and has worked both full and part time, as a bartender, clubhouse manager, assistant manager, general manager and chef.
The club employs about 50 people--cooks, bartenders, waitresses, maintenance workers, managers, a golf course superintendent and a fully certified executive chef.
Annual activities for youths include junior golf and tennis during the summer, a Halloween party, an Easter brunch, breakfast with Santa Claus around Christmas and a fun day with a puppet show, blow-up slide and contests during the summer.
According to published prices, families can purchase tennis-social memberships, which allow them to use all facilities except the golf course, for $138 monthly. Full golf memberships, which allow members to use all facilities, are $276 monthly.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
