MISSION STATEMENT

The Country Club of Darien is dedicated to providing its Members and their families with high quality facilities, a challenging and fun year-round athletic experience (golf, tennis, paddle tennis, swimming and fitness), a superior dining experience in both formal and informal settings, and a memorable social experience with activities for adults, children, families and guests.

VISION

To be recognized as the premier private family country club in Fairfield County, CT dedicated to the highest level of overall Member satisfaction while balancing the need for fiscal responsibility.

The Country Club of Darien – A Brief History and Information

Founded in 1957, The Country Club of Darien is a private, member-owned, not-for-profit, family oriented, full service club situated on 140 acres in Darien, Connecticut.  The club’s facilities include a full service clubhouse, an outstanding 18 hole golf course with extensive golf practice facilities, eight Har-Tru tennis courts, four paddle tennis courts, and a large swimming pool, all of which are maintained to the highest standards. The club is open year round, six days per week. 

The club has approximately 600 members including 350 regular golf and 50 regular tennis members. The club has admitted 237 new members in the past ten years and maintains a waiting list of prospective new members.  Many of the club’s newer members have young families and the membership has almost 600 dependent children (i.e. under 18 years old), many of whom use the club regularly under their parents’ membership, particularly in the club’s very successful Camp Keewaydin Summer Program, focused mainly on swimming, tennis and golf.  The average age of the Club’s regular membership has dropped significantly in recent years, leading to a broadening of the Club’s focus beyond golf and tennis to include a wide range of social and recreational activities which appeal to families with children.

The Club is in excellent financial condition, has no debt, and has a strong balance sheet and cash reserves notwithstanding the successful completion of several major capital improvement projects in the past decade. 

The clubhouse features dining in the Mixed Grill and Terrace, a casual Pub, and the Men’s Grill Room.  Casual meals are served at the Pool Snack Bar during summer.  For private parties and functions the club offers the formal Medallion Room, the Ballroom and Lounge, and a boutique private dining room. The clubhouse includes attractive men’s and women’s locker rooms and a health and fitness facility.

The golf course was originally designed by A.H. Tull.  The Club recently completed a substantial capital improvement program, including the redesign and renovation of the course by Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D. of Hurdzan/Fry Environmental Golf Course Design.  The project was named “2009 Renovation of the Year” by Golf Inc. Magazine.  The golf course is now one of the finest in the Tri-state area and was selected by the USGA as a qualifying venue for the 2012 United States Open.  Approximately 20,000 rounds of golf are played annually. 

The recent capital program also included a new swimming pool and pool facilities, new main and banquet kitchens, parking and landscape updates, a state-of-the-art environmental care center for grounds maintenance, new administrative offices, and new staff housing on the premises.  A new state-of-the-art platform tennis facility and golf learning center are currently being planned for completion in the near future. 

In April 2011, Audubon International recognized The Country Club of Darien as having obtained the status of Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. “The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf is an award winning education and certification program that helps golf courses protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf.  By helping people enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency, and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations, the program serves as vital resource for golf courses.

The Club currently employs 46 full-time, 24 part-time, and 85 seasonal employees, as follows: Restaurant 34 (6 full-time / 12 part-time / 16 seasonal), Bar 5 (3 full-time / 2 part-time), Kitchen 19 (11 full-time / 4 part-time / 4 seasonal), Halfway house 3 (3 seasonal), Pool Snack Bar 15 (15 seasonal), Locker Room 1 (1 full-time), Maintenance 3 (3 full-time), House 8 (4 full-time / 1 part-time / 3 seasonal), Caddie Master / Starter / Bags 3 (1 full-time / 2 seasonal), Golf Pro 1 (1 full-time head pro who hires his own staff of 4 seasonal assistants), Racquets Pro 2 (2 full-time, head pro hires his own staff of 3 seasonal assistants), Carts 8 (8 seasonal), Pool 11 (11 seasonal), Summer Camp 9 (9 seasonal), Grounds 27 (12 full-time / 1 part-time / 14 seasonal), G & A 8 (4 full-time / 4 part-time).

In addition, both the head golf pro and the head tennis/paddle pro operate the Club’s extensive golf, tennis and paddle programs as independent contractors, and hire their own seasonal assistants.