Granite Club & membership

[einar]

Recently I found myself at The Granite Club, that lovely athletic club on Bayview north of Lawrence.
I was astonished to read online that it has some 11,000 members! That's hardly a tiny enclave of rich people: it's more like a small city.

Does anyone know roughly what it costs to join? I assume there is a whopping initiation fee, plus ongoing yearly fees.

In the past it was clearly the old boys' network of Anglo Protestant Toronto, but I think this must have shifted. Are there women members? Single members? Gay and lesbian members? (The club brags about its family values.) I gather there are Jewish members nowadays. Muslims? Catholics? Proud and out atheists?

Is sport still the dominant pursuit of the place, or is the Granite Club first and foremost an upper-class social club, a place to hang out and feel exclusive? And how do you meet people there, with 11,000 members?

Frugal E.

 

[Moraff]

Well looking up their website gives the info that you have to call them for details. A search online - http://libertypostgallery.blogspot.ca/2010/03/granite-club.html - found an article from 2010 which suggests "initiation fee $12,000–$30,000, annual fee $205–$2,530 ...". I'm guessing the variance is due to whether you have someone at the club who can recommend you or not or maybe you can opt out of certain amenities.

 

[mandrill]

It's pretty incestuous. You have to be recommended by existing members. Oagre's Dad was a successful local doctor and Young Oagre was a junior member for some years. The focus of the club was on racket sports, curling, figure skating, etc. There was a dining room and a bar. But you could hardly call it a hang-out.

If you manage to join, I would sign up for their sports programs. And if you meet a nice Forest Hill widow, please get her to bring a friend and contact me. I'm sick of working and would like a Sugar Mommy.

 

[TeasePlease]

I live in the area and have been invited to join by several neighbors. It's just not my crowd. I don't own a cottage in Muskoka nor do I ski in Vail, either.

I had a chat with the chair of the membership committee a couple years ago at a social function. He was all hot to trot about getting me in (he made it clear that the club was in full-on member drive mode). We didn't talk specifics, but I was under the impression that the initiation fee would be $5,000 plus annual dues of about $2,000.

 

[Art Mann]

. . . I was under the impression that the initiation fee would be $5,000 plus annual dues of about $2,000.

Money which could be invested much more pleasantly in supporting the careers of the lovely ladies you meet here.

 

[pusher69]

i used to be a member at the Granite Club (transferred, it over to a co-worker as I rarely used the facilities due to work travels)a few years back.

Th e initiation fee we vary depending on who (senior member) sponsors you into the club. Its current still $53K per couple and $30K per person. Annual fee is about $2,500.

For an exclusive club, there are far toooooooo many members and for the price of membership I did not expect to wait. There are better clubs outside of the city and it depends on what you want out of the club.

If tennis is your game, then I would recommend it...but be prepared to wait for court time.

 

[train]

After the McQuinty donation, all you have to do is show them your Provincial Liberal Party card.

 

[TeasePlease]

Money which could be invested much more pleasantly in supporting the careers of the lovely ladies you meet here.

LOL. True. Back in my heyday, I would spend that and much more!

But I don't look at those clubs as forms of entertainment or socialization. It's strictly for networking and business development.

 

[yolosohobby]

not a bad golf course attached to the membership (extra ) but it is in the middle of nowhere (east)

plenty of slutty cougars and a few sugar babies running around.

i balked because of the large initiation fee but did some due diligence.

 

[TeasePlease]

not a bad golf course attached to the membership (extra ) but it is in the middle of nowhere (east)

plenty of slutty cougars and a few sugar babies running around.

I balked because of the large initiation fee but did some due diligence.

I'd rather join Whitevale, which is much better value (esp with their new clubhouse).

The tennis courts in the summer are a wonderful place for eye candy....

 

[Stoo]

I don't know about this club specifically, but years ago I looked into joining some ski clubs that also had pretty steep initiation fees, but as I recall, they could all be paid out over a few years. The annual fee isn't really all that bad considering a Y membership can run more than a grand...

 

[Petzel]

They openly practised discrimination against Jews years ago. Don't know if it's still the same now or not but I wouldn't want to join any place that practised anti semiticism.

 

[Celticman]

i used to be a member at the Granite Club (transferred, it over to a co-worker as I rarely used the facilities due to work travels)a few years back.

Th e initiation fee we vary depending on who (senior member) sponsors you into the club. Its current still $53K per couple and $30K per person. Annual fee is about $2,500.For an exclusive club, there are far toooooooo many members and for the price of membership I did not expect to wait. There are better clubs outside of the city and it depends on what you want out of the club.

If tennis is your game, then I would recommend it...but be prepared to wait for court time.

I don't know about this club specifically, but years ago I looked into joining some ski clubs that also had pretty steep initiation fees, but as I recall, they could all be paid out over a few years. The annual fee isn't really all that bad considering a Y membership can run more than a grand...

There is a difference between 1000 for the Y and 53000/30000 for the granite club.

 

[patton]

roughly 41,000 for initiation fee.. then annual dues
so first time cost would be about $44,000
have formal and non formal areas
like anything has its pros and cons
approx two year wait , interview needed - helps to know somebody
going through major expansion
Not as snobby and upper class as you think

 

[Stoo]

There is a difference between 1000 for the Y and 53000/30000 for the granite club.

I was referring to the annual fee.

 

[red]

i heard most members of the granite club are stone cold

 

[SchlongConery]

i heard most members of the granite club are stone cold

Actually, most are a chip off the old block at this "establishment" club.

 

[great bear]

i heard most members of the granite club are stone cold

Of quartz they are, I thought everyone knew that.

 

[Celticman]

Of quartz they are, I thought everyone knew that.

Everyone does know. It is crystal clear.

BTW, I used to go to the old Gramite club down in the St Clair area. That was a while back.

 

[great bear]

Everyone does know. It is crystal clear.

Not when you are stoned.