Would you believe that a sanctuary of calm, comfort, and luxury lies less than an hour away from Manhattan? And that it’s the ideal setting to spend a relaxing summer with the kids, while also enjoying yourself? Sounds too good to be true (especially after this insanely harsh winter), you might think. In fact, it sounds like another pipe dream that city dwellers can only wish for, because surely you have to take the long trip to the Hamptons for anything like that.
Think again.
The Inwood Country Club, situated right on the border between Queens and Long Island, offers families good old-fashioned summer fun right outside NYC. “Inwood is a hidden gem located right outside of the city, people just don’t know about it,” explains membership director Heidi Stanya.
Family Matters
Less than 20 miles from Manhattan, Inwood offers golf, tennis, an Atlantic Ocean beach club, 16 suites, kiddie and adult swimming pools, basketball, junior clinics, and more. If you’re thinking that this doesn’t quite sound like your typical country club, it might be because it’s not. While Inwood offers plenty of luxury and entertainment for adults, the clear focus is on the family as a whole. Parents can hit the golf course or the tennis courts while the kids enjoy activities with babysitters on-hand. According to Olivia Sandler, a Brooklyn mom-of-three, the family activities and kids’ offerings make a big difference. “We had joined a country club that only offered golf and swimming but did not offer these activities for our kids,” Sandler says. “ICC does a great job incorporating activities for the entire family.”
Location, Location, Location
Spending a weekend in the sun with your children engaged and supervised while you swim, golf, and decompress the week away is a vision most parents would relish. However, this dream is often waylaid by the thought of hours spent in traffic. So it makes sense that, for many city families, proximity often reigns when it comes to family destinations. ICC member and mom-of-three, Carla Villacorta, notes that the Club’s convenient location is a huge draw. “On a good day we can get to the club from the Upper East Side in 30 minutes,” she says.
The Beach
Inwood is the only country club near NYC to have an Atlantic Ocean beach club. Villacorta, who rents a single-family suite, appreciates the ease of staying at Inwood. “We have a cabana plus the convenience of towel, umbrella, and lounge chair service,” she says. “The suite gives us the ability to stay at the club when there are parties at night, as well as tee off the next day without driving to and from the city.”
Golf and Tennis
Golfers play on a 6,639-yard, par 71 golf course, which hosted the US Open in 1923 as well as metro area PGA events. The golf course is available to beginners and experts. It is, in fact, one of the reasons why some members join. “My two older girls and I used to take golf lessons at Randall’s Island and the golf pro there suggested we check out [Inwood],” Villacorta says. “Being part of a club gives us the ability to play more regularly and not have to wait long lines at public courses on the weekends.” However, if you’re more of a tennis fan, ICC offers 10 Har-Tru courts for adults and children at every level. The tennis program includes pick-up games, club tournaments, tennis parties, inter-club competitions, a ladies’ clinic on Fridays, and a children’s clinic on Saturdays.
The People
At ICC, the focus on children and families along with the laid-back camaraderie has become a clear point of interest, Stanya says, also noting that it’s one of the things that members love most. Sandler agrees: “The families make it a wonderful experience,” she says. “We had the opportunity to experience beautiful sunsets watching all our kids playing at the beach club.” Currently the majority of members are moms and dads in their late 30s to early 40s with young kids. While other clubs may feel cliquey or cold at times, Inwood goes out of its way to make every family feel at home and have an enjoyable summer experience. “It’s such a great group of people,” Stanya boasts. “We include everyone and try to pair up families with kids of the same ages. The people really make all the difference.”
To learn more about Inwood Country Club, visit inwoodcc.org.
