Canterbury Golf Club

At Canterbury Golf Club we met with Mr. Eric Rhodes, GM.
"Everything here is around golf!" Mr. Rhodes made it clear from the beginning that Canterbury is a Golf Club and all the amenities are focused on providing for the golfer's needs. Recently, the club completed a $3.8 million renovation to the Picard Lounge, named after the former head pro at Canterbury who won the Masters in 1938. His green jacket hangs next to the bar, one of only two jackets not kept at Augusta National Golf Club where the Masters is held. The renovation was to replace the formal dining hall with a more casual mixed grill equipped with bar stools and no table cloths. Mr. Rhodes said that the golfing atmosphere can be less formal and more of a beer and hamburger joint. Despite the attention to golf, members still have the social options that other country clubs offer.

Canterbury is extremely young with an average age of 46 years old and is very family oriented. There are 200 kids under 12 that attend the club. They have junior golf, tennis and a 100 kid swim team. Babysitting is offered for parents who wish to drop their kids off for a round of golf. Mr. Rhodes claimed that it is the youngest club in the Cleveland area. The attire is not very stuffy; golf attire is always allowed even in the dining rooms. As a very young club, members tend to dress relaxed. There is a kids room with games that is adjacent to the pool (see picture), "somewhere they can put their feet up and not get yelled at" according to Mr. Rhodes.

Membership is similar to the country clubs around. 350 families use the club with 225 as golf members. A social option is provided including a social + golf, which includes five golf rounds a year. Each member is allowed a one year leave of absence if needed.

Food and Beverage:
Mr. Rhodes does believe that the club chef's are the top quality. To be a chef in most restaurants around all it takes is a pair of scissors to open the package and a microwave to warm it up. At a club the chef must be prepared to cook eighty 3-course meals and also get out an order of french toast in the middle of dinner service. Mr. Rhodes explained how involved and passionate Chef Rios is in the cooking world from teaching culinary classes to being the president of the local Chef's Association. Michael Symon is a member and counsels the kitchen staff at Canterbury. They also throw dinner nights where he cooks a five course meal for $250 a person. This exciting and a special presentation that sells the club's dining option. Canterbury does however lose money on their food but makes up for it in their tournament revenue.

Golf:
Canterbury's golf is unparalleled in Northeast Ohio with greats such as Arnold Palmer, Walter Hagon, Jack Nicklaus, and Chi Chi Rodriquez who have won PGA tournaments at the club.

The prized part of being a member at Canterbury is that you get to play on a course that is always kept to a professional tournament standard. As prestigious as that sounds the club only pays $1 million a year on the course which is middle of the road. Since it is only situated on 140 acres of land, the maintenance cost is low. The course was designed by Herbert Strong. Canterbury strives to have a Major tournament every five years, whether men's, women's or senior. The pro shop is owned by the pro himself and is a complete separate entity.

Canterbury charges $1,000 a month just to belong to the club. However, you pay for what you get. Mr. Rhodes states, "When you belong to Canterbury you're driving in a Mercedes not a Chevy Cavalier. To get the nice leather seats you have to pay for them. There are other cars out there that will get you there but will not be as nice." Canterbury in a way is its own kind of club. It is a golf focused but family oriented club with very high standards and a high price tag.