Taking pride in versatility
GROVE CITY — Each Grove City Country Club membership purchase is good for the whole family — and the whole family makes use of it.
“We really do have something here for everyone,” GCCC general manager Scott Choura said.
Besides an 18-hole golf course that has a new superintendent in Chris Markel, the club offers a dining room that serves “everything from wings and hamburgers to scallops and filet mignon,” Choura said, a swimming pool, 27-acre Barmore Lake and a kids play area.
Markel served an internship at Oakmont, was assistant superintendent at Laurel Valley and superintendent at Rolling Hills before coming to Grove City.
“He joined our staff in November and he’s been tremendous,” Choura said. “We’re very excited about what he’s done here so far. We’ve dropped 80 trees off the course to open it up a little bit and we’re putting restrooms out on the golf course.”
Choura estimates the GCCC membership has increased by 330 members — roughly 40% — since 2018. Much of that increase has been the result of a preview membership program started by the club four years ago.
That offer is good for two years at roughly half the cost of a regular membership.
“A lot of clubs offer this type of trial membership, but only for three or six months or so,” Choura said. “We want people to get a total feel for what it’s like to be a member with us.
“Not only do you have full access to the golf course without having to pay greens fees, but Barmore Lake is a unique feature here. If they have a fishing license, members can fish on that lake or take nonmotorized watercraft such as kayaks or canoes out there.
“We’ve put in a picnic area, new jungle gym and swings to the kids’ play area. We just hired a new chef (Steven Greeley) two months ago and he has his menu in place,” Choura added.
GCCC’s two-year preview membership rate is $3,500 for a member over 40, $2,500 for a member under 40. Those rates cover the entire family. That preview membership entitles the family to the exact same access to the facilities as other members of the club.
“The only thing they don’t have are membership voting rights,” Choura said.
He added that 65% of the preview memberships wind up staying with the club after that preview time has expired.
“We’re very confident in what we have here,” Choura said.
The dining room is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. It is closed on Mondays.
“The public golfer plays at different courses throughout the year, paying the greens fees,” Choura said. “Our members probably play 95% of their golf right here. The preview membership offer gives a person a chance to see if this lifestyle change is for you.”
Grove City Country Club opened a nine-hole golf course in the 1920s. It bought some surrounding land and opened another nine holes in 1996.
“The newer nine holes are radically different from the original nine,” Choura said. “Golfers can tell the difference right away and they love it.”
