What gives the Idaho Falls Country Club the right to call themselves a country club? Probably their own historical claim and little else. I think the IFCC is overselling itself, and they should fix some things or risk getting buried by a competitor.
This started when a friend told me about his golfing buddy who visited from Montana. This person is a golfing nut, has played many American courses, and even lives in a condo on a golf course. This person visited the Idaho Falls Country Club and laughed at it! He said our IFCC is “nothing more than a golf course with a bar, certainly not a country club.”
I had never before considered what makes a country club a country club. My buddy said country clubs around most parts of America are larger affairs, with swimming pools and many more amenities than what the IFCC offers.
Wikipedia defines a country club as:
“… a private club which offers a variety of recreational sports facilities to its members. Two of the most common types of facilities are tennis and golf clubs, although others sports such as polo exist as well. Country clubs usually provide dining facilities to their members and guests, and frequently host catered events like weddings.”
I have never visited the IFCC, so I poked around their website to learn more about what they do offer members. Their two big physical attractions are the 18-hole golf course and their dining facility. “Dining facility” sounds more like a nice restaurant than a bar. Hopefully someone can chime in whether the IFCC offers a nice restaurant or a glorified bar. Given that this is one of only two things they offer, it is important for us to know. Their site mentions hosted events such as weddings and Super Bowl parties.
Besides the physical facilities, it is a “social club”, meaning it provides a venue for rich people to feel exclusive and important. There is nothing wrong with that, and I think it is great they can pay for a nice and beautiful place to conduct themselves. Some may call it snobbery, but they are paying for it so I do not care.
However, the IFCC does not appear to offer tennis, polo, or any other activities. Croquet, anyone? The IFCC website claims, “It is without a doubt that the Idaho Falls Country Club has one of the most prestigious golf courses in the Northwest.” Ummm, that is a huge claim for such few amenities. I think “in the Northwest” should be replaced with “in southeast Idaho”.
They also appear to have contracted out their website work to a California company, skipping over many talented local web programmers. For the money they spent in California, their website has some embarrassing grammar and blank pages. Some parts of their site look good, and some parts look cheesy (such as that logo). I think if any organization goes to the trouble of buying a website, then make it work and look good. Do not leave it halfway done, because that reflects on your organization. Hopefully they pour another ounce of effort into that site and finish it.
I think the IFCC should either add some amenities and earn that title “country club”, or someone else should develop a real country club, call themselves the “Idaho Falls Country Club”, and sue the old country club for rights to the name. At the least, the IFCC appears to cap their membership at 375 members, so our local market is probably ripe for another exclusive country club.
What do you think?
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Gato got runned over by Marcus many moons ago. Be ye daft, 2486? 
Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Someone just made a remark to me so I need to clarify something.
I didn’t mean to just tear down the IFCC from every angle possible. I heard that complaint that they are not a true country club, so I looked at wikipedia to find out what is considered a “true country club”, then I looked at the IFCC website to see what they offered, and while there I noticed the problems they had with their website, and then wondered who did their design and discovered they used a California design firm.
Fortunately their website issues can be easily fixed, if they are inclined to do so. Their amenities problem is the real issue.
Gather the pitchforks and lanterns….let’s go get em Joe!
Why is this even a concern?
Its finally safe to say that we have run out of things to talk about in Idaho Falls.
The cashiers and clerks who comment at this site would not appreciate this problem facing our upper class. I drive to Sun Valley or Jackson for the weekend rather than waste my money on this silly country club. I want to take my clients to premiere facilities, however these are limited in Idaho Falls. We want to spend our money if the accomodations are higher class. The country club IS more country than club.
If I don’t care for the rich folks, who will?
I have to agree with you Joe. Having the country club does not benefit anyone but those who pay for it but having clubs like these help to draw in people and businesses that make this such a great place to live!
Rich folk do make the world go round so they do need to be kept happy!
They appease their customer base. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be in existence.
I have been to the country club quite a few times as a guest in tournaments and for fun. I have also been to many other country clubs in the states. To say that the IFCC does not compare to other country clubs is probably right. They don’t compare, but this doesn’t mean that the IFCC is no good. If you compare the prices (which is a massive factor in the quality of country clubs) between IFCC and those of others, they are very different. The IFCC doesn’t have excessive country club membership fee’s as those who may offer other amenities, such as polo or swimming. However, They do offer tennis as it clearly states on their website. The other main difference in the clubs, are size. The IFCC does not have tons of room for polo or swimming, which I don’t think would be used if they were offered. If anything, I believe that the IFCC would lose members due to the fact that they would have to pay more for amenities they’re not going to use. And where you can only golf in IF 6-8 months out of the year, what would be the point in offering more amenities, especially if they’re limiting the memberships to 375. They’re almost always full, and obviously people are there to golf. As for the “Bar” as you heard, it is not just a bar. They have a full restaurant with great food, and Members can go eat there anytime, not just for special occasions. They have a bar, a golf shop and very nice facilities. In this review it states, “The IFCC website claims, “It is without a doubt that the Idaho Falls Country Club has one of the most prestigious golf courses in the Northwest.” Ummm, that is a huge claim for such few amenities.” They are not saying that their country club is the best in the northwest. They are saying that their GOLF COURSE is one of the most prestigious,meaning it has a very good reputation, which it does. I have never discussed golf with someone who has played this course and not enjoyed it. As for the people being snobby and rich, every CC has that. However, I do know of a few people who are not rich, but save their money to get a membership each year because they enjoy being a part of it, having the facilities to use, and love to play the course. As for myself, after dealing with some of the employees at the municipal courses in town,i can see how having a IFCC membership would be a benefit for those who can afford it, or would like to be a part of it.
When we moved here I called them thinking it might be a starting place for swimming for the kids, or tennis, or anything at all, even having a decent restaurant nearby. What a disappointment. They should drop the “country club” from their name altogether. At least the city has other recreational opportunities for families in those areas.
Are you serious “Reader?” I’m sure that people would pay money for a membership so that their kids can go swim. Even if the IFCC had a swimming pool do you people honestly think that they’d make it for children? Maybe like once a month they’d have a family day or something, but I highly doubt that they would want a bunch of kids in there. I can almost guarantee that it would be mainly used for people to do laps, aerobics or something to that effect. If all you people want a membership somewhere with swimming, why don’t you get one at Apple? Stop crying about the IFCC just because you assume things. And if you want “a decent restaurant nearby” where do you live that you wanna drive clear out there to eat? Go to 17th street, that will get you food and a membership to apple, that way all you people can have swimming, tennis and whatever else you’re crying about on here. Look up some facts all you lazy people who don’t know a damn thing about the IFCC or a Country Club in general, there is a reason people with memberships there, STAY THERE…So they don’t have to deal with you people always bitching about random things that in no way affect your life. So what if the IFCC took of “Country Club?” Would that honestly make you happy? It’ll still be private, and you still won’t be able to golf there. Find some facts before you jump down their throat.
Sounds like Cody needs to get off his “high horse” and cut reader some slack. You could have replied without calling this person names and without the holier than thou attitude. You also could have referred them to the YMCA. Get over yourself and take a valium. There’s no need to get all in a huff over something so insignifigant.
I agree…..what a lame comment. You can stay at your lame country club, cause I sure as heck don’t want you at the Apple! And if you think IFCC is an actual “country club”….obviously YOU’VE never been to a real country club before. IFCC is far from a “real” country club. It’s a “wannabe” country club made for the snobs of Idaho Falls like yourself.
I’m laughing all the way to the bank on that one. Literally!
You can keep it, cause it obviously makes you feel like a better person to have a membership there. ROFL! Now THAT’s funny!
Wow, Cody – you need a vacation! We happen to live in the county, not far from the “country club”. So, it would have been closer than Apple or anywhere else in the city, if they had any services besides golf.
It’s plain to see from your post you don’t have much experience with country clubs, at least real ones. There are several country clubs around the nation who have family memberships available, with a lot more to offer and actual choices for activities. No, I agree, it’s not supposed to be like a city swimming pool with craziness everywhere. Is it not possible to have families interact with such sophisticated members as yourself?
Many real country clubs have nice restaurants too. Again, would have been closer for us. I think you are the one making the big assumptions here, not me.
I’m still not sure what a membership buys you at the IFCC, care to enlighten us? A game of golf with other snobs and high rollers? What is so great about it for “you people”? Is it so you don’t have to deal with other lessor people? For your information, I could buy the IFCC if I wanted to, with plenty of change left over. Chew on that. Maybe we don’t want to be members if you are a representation of the typical member. How sad for them, and embarrassing for management.
We are “bitching” about random things that don’t affect our life? Wow, you really have your head in the clouds. Go visit a real country club, outside of Idaho, then get back to us. Even Pocatello offers more at their country club, so realistically we should call the IFCC the “Idaho Falls Private Golf Club”.
Bottom line: we moved here, had the money to spend, but didn’t find it worth it.
Hate to break it to you Cody, but even your crap stinks at the end of the day too. …
How long until someone or some folks invest together to create another local country club to provide some competition? It is inevitable given how much Idaho Falls is due to grow, the question is when, who will do it, where it will be located, and what amenities would it offer to compete?
I just want to say many of us in the golfing community don’t even consider the IFCC to the best course in the area. I know many of people who consider Pincrest, Jefferson Hills, and Teton Lakes, to be superior courses. The greater Idaho Falls area has many great courses to choose from.