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.

Planning and pulling off a charity event comes with a multitude of things to consider, and details to iron out. With the goal of inspiring your guests to generously donate to your charity, you’ll want to keep their experience at the forefront of your mind as you organize this event. So while larger charity events have become the standard, a smaller affair may actually be a better opportunity for your charity. 

Skip the Normal Charity Event Scene

It may seem as though the best way to draw in more money for your charity is by bringing in more people to your event. But consider that as your guest list grows, you will encounter a variety of new budgetary considerations. You'll need a larger event space, more tables, chairs, and linen rentals. Not to mention, more staff will be needed to accommodate the crowd.

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.

If you’re a full-time student, it’s tough to balance a job year-round. That’s why seasonal jobs are such a great alternative. But it’s understandable why you wouldn’t want to go straight from the classroom to a summer job where you’re cooped up and missing out on the most beautiful time of year! Working a seasonal job at a golf course gives you the best of all worlds – a summer job to put cash in your pocket and gain work experience, all while having fun and enjoying that precious vitamin D. 

From the course to the driving range, a summer job at a golf club provides a variety of positions and responsibilities – and benefits that reach beyond your paycheck. Here are the top four benefits of working a seasonal job at a golf course:

Skilled golfers make the game look easy, their effortless swings perfectly striking the little dimpled ball, driving it into the air with uncanny accuracy. The allure of the game for beginners starts with one simple thought - “it looks so easy!” And then they put a club in their hand for the first time and all of a sudden what looked so easy becomes exceptionally complicated. The grip, the stance, keep your head still, don’t look up, the rules, etc. Barriers to enjoying this wonderful pastime pop up all over the place! So, how do you get past these roadblocks to learn the game? Or if you’re introducing the game to someone new, what are ways to help make that outing fun and memorable for all the right reasons? We have a few suggestions:

From finding a sponsor to understanding the different levels of membership, there are a lot of questions that come with joining a private club like North Oaks Golf Club. You may be wondering about costs, meeting new friends, or making sure that your family is going to enjoy it as much as you will. 

We asked our general manager, Phil Anderson, to identify and answer the top four questions he gets when it comes to golf membership at North Oaks Golf Club:

Much like your first day at a new school, joining a new club can be a bit intimidating. Everyone walking the halls--or in this case, the greens--seems to already know one another and knows what's going on. But just like school, learning the ropes of a new club isn't nearly as intimidating as it seems. 

With plenty of social and golf groups to join, family activities to get involved in and lessons to help you improve your skills (not to mention the ability to play the course as much as you'd like) you'll get settled in in no time! Keep reading for a few tips to help make your adjustment go even more smoothly.

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.