Sometimes you just need to take time off work and play golf. At least that's what Molly Schnagl says.

Although she works out of her home, Molly frequently travels as the busy owner of Tomegan Marketing Group. But in the summer of 2018, she slowed it down to focus on another passion of hers — golf.

"I took the lion's share of the summer off," she says. "I focused on playing a ton of golf and had a lot of fun."

Although she began with a social interest in golf, Molly had always been interested in joining a club to play golf with other women with the same passion. It was all about finding the right one. Here's her story.

It wouldn't be surprising to see Greg and Erin Stalsberg teeing off on hole no. 7 at North Oaks Golf Club this summer after enjoying dinner with their three children — McKenna, 12, Brynn, 8, and Callan, 6. After all, the hole is across the street from their house.

Golfing became more of a family hobby for the Stalsbergs six ago, when they first joined North Oaks Golf Club. Now that they are members, it's become their neighborhood oasis for all sorts of family fun.

When you think of famous golf course designers, names like Donald Ross, Pete Dye, and Tom Fazio often come to mind. Many golfers also have favorite designers based on the designers' “signature” approach. For example, if you typically fade the ball, you may love courses designed by Jack Nicklaus Design. Or maybe you have an affinity for courses designed by A.W. Tillinghast who worked on more than 250 golf courses including Winged Foot, Baltusrol, and Bethpage Black. 

One designer you may not be as familiar with is the late Stanley Thompson. Thompson, who was Canadian and an accomplished golfer in his own right, spent 40-years of his life designing courses. With nearly 150 courses in Canada and 26 courses in the United States, his most well-known courses are the Banff Springs Hotel Golf Course in Alberta and the Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course in Jasper, Alberta. Thompson, the designer of North Oaks Golf Club which was built in 1951, is well-known and respected for his ability to preserve the natural terrain upon which his courses were built. 

In our busy, hectic lives, family members can get scattered about on their way to the weekend. Work, school, and everything in between can make it difficult for families to find a lot of time together, much less even enjoy a family dinner. So, why not consider a golf membership at a club, where the whole family can meet and spend quality time together?

A social or golf membership at a country club is so much more than just a way to play some golf, particularly for a family. The right club will offer many amenities and activities, beyond golf, to interest the entire family. A club can become the venue a family counts on to bring everyone together.

People don't often talk about how much they love to wait — waiting in line at Target, for your food at a restaurant, for your order to ship, for the doctor to see you, for your turn at the DMV. Waiting has become especially difficult for people in today's fast-moving, instant gratification-needing environment. But some things are well worth the wait, like a social or golf membership at a private club.

So, if you've found a great private golf club that you're interested in joining but there's a waitlist, here are three reasons to add your name to the list.

You love golf and want to play more, so what’s keeping you from taking the plunge and joining a golf club? Maybe you’re concerned a golf club won’t have enough other things (outside of golf) for your family to do? Maybe you’re worried about the investment? Perhaps you’re worried about not being a good enough golfer or you simply think joining a club sounds too pretentious? 

Today golf clubs are a much different place than they were even 10 years ago. 

While golf remains a strong part of the club’s identity, it’s also a great place to meet new people, enjoy quality family time and be a part of a community where you belong in this increasingly superficial world.

When it comes to investing in your family's future and well-being, certain decisions, like whether or not to start a college fund or to supplement your retirement account, are easy to make. But what about the decisions that can start benefiting your family today, rather than years down the line?

Many families find themselves considering making an investment in how they choose to spend their time together. Two popular options are to purchase a cabin getaway or join a country club. While both certainly have their pros, there are also plenty of cons that you need to be aware of to help you make an informed decision. Keep reading to learn what you can expect when you buy a cabin or join a country club, and why one might be the better choice for your family.

When most people think about North Oaks Golf Club, the first thing that comes to mind is the golf. But Scott and Stephanie Paul have a different reaction. They think about all the great experiences their young children are having.

Frankly, they also think about the golf, but with three kids under 7, they were too busy to play much golf this summer, so they decided to start with a social membership. “We’ll probably look into a golf membership next year,” Stephanie explains, "but this was such a good decision for us and the boys and the whole family. All the activities have been wonderful for the kids, so it's just been great."

In fact, in their first half-year as members, the family has already discovered a number of must-do kids activities, turned the club into an extra place for family fun, and oldest son Archie even found the hidden prize at the club's annual winter medallion hunt – which he traded in for an epic Nerf Wars birthday party. "The boys just love it," Stephanie says, "and they haven't even gotten to go to the Halloween party or Christmas events yet."

If you thought your golf club membership was just for golf leagues or dinner with the family, think again. Your golf club membership can be an asset to your business, too. Need to strike a deal with a prospective client? Invite them to play a round of golf. Want to host a monthly off-site meeting with colleagues?  Reserve an event space at your golf club.

Here are five ways to use your golf club membership for business.

When John and Terri Shuman moved back to Minnesota, they knew they wanted a family membership at North Oaks Golf Club. I guess you could say it runs in the family.

"Terri grew up here," John says. "Her parents were social members. We just knew we were always going to do it."

And they knew they wanted to live in the community, as well. "There are no street lights or sidewalks," he says. "We have lakes and trails. It makes it such a peaceful and tranquil place to live. It's close to downtown, and there are homes in all price points. You're able to work in the city, but you're able to escape that and live in the middle of the woods."