Brynwood Innovates with Membership Deals

Brynwood's #8, a challenging par three

NY Metro private clubs aren't known for their creativity when it comes to membership drives. During the beginnings of the economic downturn a few years ago, some sharpened their pencils and did some aggressive pricing to keep the doors open, but most of those pencils have dulled recently as membership rolls got a little fatter. Brynwood Golf & Country Club in Armonk is one that didn't stop working to attract new members--not because it needs them, but because that's the new way of doing business brought to the club by new owners who took over in 2010.

Zero initiation fees and reasonable memberships designed to fit the way different demographic groups use the club are just two of the ways Brynwood is creating a modern private club business. “We have a dynamic membership that demands the highest quality country club experience in a sophisticated, yet approachable environment,” says Josh Lowney, General Manager. “We feature a great golf course that is meticulously maintained, the best food I’ve seen at any country club thanks to our culinary team that joined us last year from Cipriani in New York City, and a social calendar that includes live music, dance parties and exclusive wine tasting dinners.”

Given the high end club experience, the membership packages become even more attractive. Here are some of the more popular for 2014:

• Sports Memberships priced at $700 per month.  The Sports Membership includes tennis, pool, gym and all clubhouse and social activities.
• Young Executive Membership priced at $962 per month.  This is a full family golf membership and one spouse needs to be under 40 years of age upon joining to qualify.
• Classic Membership priced at $1,050 per month.  This is a full family golf membership and one spouse needs to be over 70 years of age upon joining to qualify.
• Single Membership priced at $1,050 per month.  This is a golf membership where one spouse plays golf and the rest of the family can enjoy all of the club’s facilities other than the golf course.
• Family Membership priced at $1,225 per month.  This is a full family membership where all family members can enjoy all of the club’s facilities. Children up to the age of 25 are included at no additional cost.

Brynwood is managed by Troon Golf and members are automatically enrolled in the Troon Prive’ program that allows them to play hundreds of Troon golf courses around the world.  The club facilities include an 18-hole, championship golf course, 7 Har-Tru tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, and a 65,000-square-foot clubhouse. The newly renovated clubhouse features an elegant lobby and ballroom that can accommodate up to 400 guests. There is also a sports lounge, a fully equipped fitness center, a business center and a children’s playroom with a movie theater and video games.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf