The Importance of Social Card Games
The importance of Social Card Games at clubs in the Sun Belt consistently ranks high among the more than 7,000 avid golfers who have completed the Golf Life Navigators’ ProGuide3. So, we asked membership officials at two of our Showcase Clubs in Florida and one Showcase Club in South Carolina, to tell us what’s special about their card games.
Kensington Golf & Country Club
Naples, FL
Sara James
Director of Membership & Marketing
Kensington Golf & Country Club
Naples, Florida
Q. How are card games an important social element to many members at Kensington, and what are the most popular card games?
A. The most popular card game, by far, is our Couples Mixed Bridge group. We also host Ladies Duplicate Bridge and Men’s Bridge, which both enjoy much participation. Bridge lessons are offered for various skill lessons. Kensington Golf & Country Club offers spacious card rooms adjacent to both the Ladies’ and Men’s Locker Rooms. Most of the participants dine at the Club prior to playing bridge.
Q. How often do members play cards – in terms of days of the week – and are there specific card leagues within the club?
A. Mah Jongg is offered three days a week to players of various levels of experience. Canasta, a card game of the Rummy family, is available on Monday afternoons. Differing games of Bridge are hosted four days a week.
Q. How many total members play in club card games, and has that number increased in recent years?
A. The number of card games have increased in recent years with players numbering as many as 80 for Ladies Duplicate Bridge and Couples Mixed Bridge. One of the reasons that our card games have become more popular is that lessons are available for nearly every game. If a member is interested in playing Ladies Duplicate Bridge and does not have a partner, one will be found for her. Camaraderie, laughter, and connection are just a few reasons that our members love to play card games.
(Sara James, Director of Membership & Marketing, notes that In addition to card games, Kensington Golf & Country Club offers Women’s and Men’s Book Clubs as well as a Grape Expectations Wine Club.)
The Country Club of Coral Springs
Coral Springs, FL
Bill Friesing
General Manager
The Country Club of Coral Springs
Coral Springs, Florida
Q. How are card games an important social element to many members at The Country Club of Coral Springs, and what are the most popular card games?
A. Card games are truly an important part of the social element at The Country Club of Coral Springs. Our men play Gin Rummy and our ladies play Bridge & Hearts. An evening blackjack game is played by our men on Wednesday nights. Our private card rooms are set in both our main clubhouse and locker room areas.
Q. How often do members play cards – in terms of days of the week – and are there specific card leagues within the club?
A. Cards are played three days a week – Monday, Wednesday and Thursday – by both the men & women after their golf games. Their card leagues begin around 1 p.m., after lunch and conclude around 5 p.m.
Q. How many total members play in club card games, and has that number increased in recent years?
A. About 30 different members participate in our card games. This represents about 15% of our total membership. This is an increase of about 5%, which is tied to our membership growth. Over the past year we have seen Social Members join in on the card games. We have seen relationships grow between these members and have even have had some Social Members upgrade to Golf.
Hampton Hall Club
Bluffton, SC
Kristy Stewart
Director of Membership, Marketing & Communications
Hampton Hall Club
Bluffton, South Carolina
Q. How are card games an important social element to many members at Hampton Hall Club, and what are the most popular card games?
A. In terms of cards, most groups are playing Bridge, but an even larger portion of members are also playing Mahjong now. Bunco is popular among our membership, as well. Bridge and other games are a strong social element to the club. We have about five different groups that play on different days of the week. Members catch up with one another and have light snacks the first 20 minutes of the day. Most groups play early and finish with lunch together at Pete’s Grill.
Q. How often do members play cards – in terms of days of the week – and are there specific card leagues within the club?
A. Hampton Hall Club has longstanding card groups that play Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday – all different groups on different days. We also host an annual Mahjong Marathon tournament here, with over 150 players from different communities, who gather for fun and to raise money for a local cause.
Q. How many total members play in club card games, and has that number increased in recent years?
A. There are at least 50 total card players each week making up the various groups, and the number is relatively stable.
