Private Swim Clubs - Which one is worth it?
Hello there!
Which swim clubs do you guys belong to? My family is interested in joining one but I think it's ridiculous what Claremont is charging (17 grand non refundable fees + $590 month fees per family). I know there are several different ones in the area and I wanted to hear what you like about the ones you belong to?
Thanks much!
Sep 27, 2021
Parent Replies
We are on the hunt for the same. We liked the vibe and affordability of Oak Spring in Orinda but the pool temperature was too cold for us. They said the pool was heated but it felt frigid even on a 85 degree day. Sequoia country club’s social membership seemed great but it’s quite a drive for us North Oakland residents. We have friends who are happy with various places in Oakland hills. We live in the flat part of Oakland so that’s also inconvenient. Alameda’s bay farm has a place which we may look into. Hiller Highlands has a country club which we are interested in joining but we have been told that they are not accepting new members due to the pandemic. It is frustrating that swimming options are so limited.
Lakeridge Athletic Club in El Sobrante is a true gem. Pool is 82-83 year round & it’s really beautiful. Nominal fee of around 200 to join and around 200 per month for a family of 4.
Sequoyah Country Club's social membership includes the use of the pool, gym, tennis courts, and dining. There are other membership levels for those looking to golf (and social members can take golf lessons and participate in other golf clinics). The club is very diverse (which we love) and there are a lot of families with children. There is a kid's club a few times a week and frequent social events. There is a waitlist to join right now, but I think it's well worth the wait, the monthly dues, and the food and beverage minimums.
For a private swim club, the only one we have belonged to is Oakland Hills Tennis Club, and I do not recommend it.
We had a fitness membership there for 15+ years. Our experience with the family who own and operate it was that they were unpleasant to deal with. They wanted to stick a lot of capital improvement costs to the membership.
Our daughter was the main swimmer in our household. She quit going there because she felt that she got a lot of nasty attitude from the other swimmers who were more skilled than she is.
I belong to The Hills Swim and Tennis Club. We have had many happy playdates and parties on-site. We have brought friends and family to enjoy the facilities. The pools, gym, tennis courts, and facilities are clean and the members are very friendly. It is very down-to-earth. They offer yoga, PIlates, weight training, tennis lessons, and a Zone-2 Club swim team for the kids. Many members are long-time members. I am interested in giving up my membership as my children have grown and gone off to college. Please feel free to contact me.
We recently joined the Montclair swim club and like it so far. The fees are less than the other clubs and it’s almost always easy to get your own lane for laps. It’s not as fancy as the other clubs, but we like the vibe.