In every town there are lovely spots that become part of the fabric of a community. The Olympia Country and Golf Club’s waterfront setting has hosted golf tournaments, poolside birthday parties, romantic weddings and plenty of seasonal, chef-crafted mountain-view dinners. Members and their families can play, relax, dine and enjoy the Pacific Northwest’s natural splendor all year round.
Since a group of members formed an LLC that took over ownership of the Club from the estate of Dr. Angela Bowen in 2021, they have worked hard to maintain, improve and expand the Club’s many offerings. With ownership funds authorized to improve the golf course and complete maintenance updates around the grounds, they’re excited for 2022 to get rolling in style. With golf, pickleball, weddings, live music, swimming and more amidst stunning views, waterfront access, 99 acres of open space and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s sure to be a year to remember.
“It has been an exciting, stressful, unprecedented, fun, hard, roller coaster of a year,” says Jason Reehm, general manager. “Whenever you have new ownership, there is always an influx of energy, and we have felt that. The hard part is that COVID has dampened the first year of ownership in some ways, but we are really enthusiastic for this summer and the future as we really feel the excitement from our membership of life gaining its normalcy back.”
And it’s not just guests who benefit. “The staff has been very encouraged from the new ownership as the first year has really been dedicated to deferred maintenance and projects to improve operations,” explains Reehm. “Although they are not the most exciting projects, the new ownership has put a lot of capital into getting the Club to be in a better place to run more smoothly operationally for the future.”
With their springtime membership drive, which runs through May 31, they are already seeing awesome energy from members about this spring and summer. “Our events are selling out, our golf divisions are starting this month and the overall buzz is back at the Club!”
This annual recruitment event is a popular way for new members to experience all the Club has to offer while saving money at the same time. “We have had a great first month of our membership drive,” says Reehm. “Considering the weather has been subpar, we are very pleased with the results. We still have few months to go, and we are hopeful to welcome many more new members to our Club. The golf season really does not start until after the Masters tournament, we are expecting an uptick in memberships after that weekend and when the weather starts to warm up a bit more.”
The Club’s carefully landscaped golf course is truly a draw for both new and existing members. “The main reasons people join on the golf side is the accessibility to the course, the views and the challenging layout our course provides,” Reehm explains.
“The benefit to being a golf member and not playing a public course is that you can get a tee time when you want,” he continues. “That is a huge draw and something we know is a value to our members. Our views of Mt. Rainer and the water are unparalleled. The course itself is not easy and no matter how many times you play it, there are still challenging holes and spots that are hard to master.”
Club CEO Josh Bridge agrees that golf is a big part of daily life at the Club. “You can play in four hours or less,” he says. “You also don’t feel the need to always get 18 holes in every time because you paid for a round.” This ability to pick up the Clubs any time keeps your game sharp and your swing strong.
“We also have our swimming pool right on the waterfront,” says Reehm, “and that is the highlight of the summer. We do anywhere from 6 to 10 social events a month for our members and their families, so there are a lot of ways to be active and meet people as well.”
Whichever of their amenities draw you in, the Club’s event calendar has something for everyone. From holiday brunch to informative lecture series, family bingo night to global culinary exploration, there’s always something going on. Prospective new members can contact Club CEO Josh Bridge or General Manager Jason Reehm directly to sign up or with questions. They can be reached at josh@olygolfclub.com or jason@olygolfclub.com. You can also call the club at 360.866.7121 and follow the prompts for membership options.
Follow the club on Facebook or Instagram for news, updates and activities. The dust off your spring and summer calendar because 2022 is going to be a blast. Rain, shine, indoors or out, the Olympia Country and Golf Club welcomes residents to find a little peace and escape from the drudgery all year long.
Sponsored
