“We’re not your grandfather’s country club anymore,” said Don Britt, Vice President and General Manager of Summit Chase Country Club in Snellville, one of the oldest and most successful country clubs in Gwinnett County. “Now, guys playing golf is still our bread and butter, but now we see ladies and kids all around the clubhouse having fun and enjoying all of our activities.
“Families are looking for entertainment for all different age groups. It used to be that golf was it – and it still is – but now great food, great entertainment and different activities for the whole family are just as important.”
While it’s true that a quality golf course remains the crown jewel of any country club, only those facilities that cater to all members of a family are finding success in challenging economic times. To their credit, Britt, whose family purchased Summit Chase in 1980 – Britt’s father Van, mother Frankie, sister Adrienne and brother Dusty all work at the club — and his staff recognized the changing country club landscape and adapted their membership activities to meet this new demand.
“Our junior programs for golf, tennis and swimming are huge and are open to members and non-members alike,” Britt said. “As far as kids, throughout the year we have family games nights, Pizza and Bingo with Mr Karl, puppet show dinner theatre, dive-in movie night, campfires and hay rides on the golf course. We have so many activities for the whole family to enjoy.”
Along with popular tennis and swimming programs, Summit Chase also offers a variety of activities for every age group, including “Mom’s Night Out” buffets every Wednesday, Sunday brunches, wine tasting events, dances, and live entertainment. One of the more popular events among couples are the club’s monthly “Sundress Scramble” golf outings. Held the first Friday of every month from April to October, the “Sundress Scramble” is designed for beginning women golfers and have evolved into “more of a social event,” according to Britt.
“A lot of times we have women out who have never played golf before,” Britt said. “How it works is there are four couples per group, and the guys play a scramble and when the ball gets on the green, the women have to take over and get the ball in the hole. Last month, we had 46 couples come out. There’s a different theme each month and a dinner afterward, so it’s more like a mixer for the members. They really enjoy it.”
Summit Chase, which has played host to a number of top-notch state golf championships on its acclaimed 18-hole course, will soon feature the new David Epps Golf Academy, which will be run by longtime Summit Chase head professional David Epps.
A wide variety of club memberships tailored to meet the needs – and budgets – of just about any family or individual are available.
“Come on out for a tour, look at the clubhouse, test the golf course and see what we have to offer for the whole family,” Britt said. “We have memberships in 10-12 different categories that are very affordable and include everything from full memberships with access to the entire facility for the whole family, junior memberships, or social members that include dining and access to our social activities for just $300 per year.
“Just give us a call. We’d love to have you out for a tour and see what we have to offer.”
For more information about memberships or junior golf, tennis and swimming programs, which are open to the public, contact Summit Chase Country Club at 770-979-9000.
