A community gathering place

The New Albany Country Club has been a central part of the community since it opened in 1992 and is now 1,240 members strong. The club’s 27-hole golf course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is home to the New Albany Golf Academy, affording indoor play in any season. “We wanted to give our membership the opportunity to continue playing golf year-round,” says Stephen McVey, the club’s general manager. Rather than neglect their swing in the winter months, this indoor advantage lets members keep their skills sharp, he says.

Five bays let members drive balls from indoors to outdoors, and two more bays are dedicated to instruction, where technology enables players to record and analyze their swings, comparing it to that of professional golfers or checking their own progress. Members also may practice and analyze their putting indoors.

Having 27 holes rather than 18 has been valuable, according to McVey. “It’s beneficial for members because it eases congestion during maximum play times,” he says. It also provides more variety for players and allows more space for hosting charity golf outings.

Of course, there’s much more than golf at the country club. “We’ve got a huge, huge tennis program,” McVey says. The club has 18 courts, including some with a grass surface, which aren’t terribly common. The women’s and junior programs are rapidly expanding, thanks to New Albany’s growth overall, he says. “The whole community is growing. That’s exponentially happening here at the club.”

An expanded bath and tennis building opened in May 2004 when the club gained 8,000 square feet for a total of 30,000. With the 2004 expansion came more room for fitness classes and equipment, along with the addition of a junior room for 8- to 12-year-olds. Child care is offered for younger kids, McVey says. Locker rooms also gained some space, and a spa with three treatment rooms was added so members can get massages, facials and manicures.

Several other changes have arrived since the club began. It now has five pools, up from its original three. An indoor pool stays open all year, and a fun pool was added outdoors, featuring a fountain and slides. A separate adult pool, for those 21 and over, is gaining in popularity, McVey says. It has a fence, landscaping and a bar and provides more calm than the family areas, he notes. “It’s been very well-received.”

The specialty pools reflect the larger goals of the country club, to accommodate the interests older members, single people and especially parents and children. “Our goal is to provide one-stop shopping for families,” he says. “It’s refreshing to see a club which recognizes the family.”