doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Shotgun Sports Country Club

The other day a friend and I were discussing the possibility of a shotgun sports country club. Basically, we envisioned something like a typical golf country club but for shotgun sports. It would ideally have: a sporting clays course, skeet, trap, maybe occassional pigeon shoots or a hunting area, possibly tennis and a pool for the kids, and an upscale clubhouse with restaurant, meeting facilities, and bar. I imagine there would be a dress code, just like any other club -- collared shirts on the course, jackets in the clubhouse, no sneakers, etc.. Of course, membership, yearly dues, minimum club house purchases, and the like would be required.

Has anyone ever heard of such a thing?

I know one or two country clubs around these parts that offer limited trap shooting, but they are primarily golf clubs and do not offer enough shooting to make me interested in joining.

Maybe the nature of the sport would make it unsuccessful for whatever reason but I, for one, would be interested in joining an upscale shooting club. Call me elitist, but I would love to be able to shoot a beautiful, golf-like sporting clays course, and then retire to the clubhouse for some good bourbon and a meal. While there are several very nice sporting clays courses within an hour drive from my house, none offer the type of atmosphere I envision (and I would feel silly wearing a sport coat to them for no reason). I guess the Vinatgers offer something along these lines - i.e. an excuse to dress nicely for "gentlemanly" shooting - but I just can't get past the knickers.

Am I alone, or would anyone else be interested in a sporting country club?

Something like this?
http://www.greenbrier.com/site/activities-detail.aspx?cid=104

Not in the least. The idea of a club is to keep the cost of shooting down. I'd much rather spend money on lots of targets than frills, and I'd never a attend a place that had dress requirements. If you like that sort of thing, fine, but I think the number of patrons is limited. Personally, I think inclusion is the future of our game, not exclusion. Everyone with a desire to shoot should be welcome, no matter what they dress like, and the cost should be such that they can afford to take the game up at an active level if they so choose.

More like this.

http://www.shootlcsa.com/index.htm

I like the heck out of this place!! To bad it is so far away....actually it is probably a good thing if you know what I mean!!

http://www.elkcreekhuntclub.com/index.aspx

If you have an interest in shooting with the Vintagers let me know. We are based in your area although we go to a dozen clubs each year. You are not required nor expected to wear knickers the first time. If you enjoy, you might change your mind and invest in a pair of Breeks. Exceptional group of men (and a woman or two).

Best,
Milt

I agree with SGJ except that I like frills such as grass, trees, and water contained by something like a lake or stream rather than a strip pit. Ideally, I feel everyone should wear a seersucker suit AND sneakers when shooting.

jack

Fancy private shooting clubs exist and they are similar in cost and exclusivity as fancy golf clubs. Second mortgage kind of costs.

I'd like to see a housing development that is hunter/shooter friendly. Instead of a homeowner's assciation pool, how about a 300 yard range, 5 stand sporting clays and open space set aside to hunt.

Silly me. Lowell Glenthorne all ready has vast acreage. Maybe the board could bum 10,000 acres off of him as donation to BBS!