grosse pointe yacht club dues

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

Inaugural Member – Private Yacht Club which has consistently been voted Number One Yacht Club in the United States by the Club Managers Association. Diverse programs from sailing, swimming, tennis, platform tennis and bowling, in addition to fine dining and children’s programs, are all benefits of membership.

788 Lake Shore Road Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236 USA

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313.884.2500

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The Chamber will provide leadership and services to the business community, promote economic vitality, collaborate with municipal government for business development and enhance the quality of life for those who live, work and visit in the Grosse Pointes.

(313) 881-GPCC (4722)

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Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

Review Highlights

“ Dress codes are strictly enforced (no jeans, jackets required in the main ballroom ). ” in 2 reviews

“ The marina and boats really have no significance to a bride & groom unless they are boaters, and half the time the water stinks. ” in 3 reviews

“ you must be a member to get in. ” in 3 reviews

Location & Hours

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788 Lake Shore Rd

Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236

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• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
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Overall rating

Attended a seminar here, partial dinner included.very good waitress service. Huge chicken breast- juicy, served with steamed vegetables and potatoes. Water only, as even to purchase no other beverages were offered. Very good looking building- kept up quite well.

Always a special time at this picturesque venue. Food is excellent, service is top notch. I could come here everyday.

Came with friends from another club, we were greeted graciously. Went to dining area to sit and as I walked in a nurf ball came falling/sailing over the top of my head. Scared me a bit and threw me off a bit. Seriously? Kids playing in the bar area restaurant with absolutely no control over these "Free range"kids, from their lazy parents. (Kid we threw the nurf ball came to apologize for scaring me, which was nice and appreciated. Unfortunately, at a club like this, the kids are used to being out of control, since they know that no one dares to reprimand them. The whole evening dinner was spent watching this circus play out. Parents, have some guts, put down your drink and be conscious of others who are attempting to enjoy their food also. Or better yet take you and your kids to McDonalds!!!! We could tell the wait staff was at their wits end, everyone trying to carry their trays without tripping over one of the kids! I hope the pay and tips are worth the aggravation. There have got to be better venues to work!!!!

The staff is very personable and they give you an experience like no other. They host some amazing events and Mothers day brunch. They offer a amazing Adult learn to sail program that gives you some great tips to use. This place is always decorated so beautifully. Make sure you visit the Marine activity center. This is a wonderful club and very welcoming. You can always know your getting the full Grosse Pointe experience here. Please note... you must be a member to get in. But if you already are you know exactly what I am talking about. From the service to the staff giving you a experience. It has earned a solid place in my book.

View from lakeshore

Best members EVER!!! As someone that has worked there for 23 years. The members treat the staff like family!!! The best!!!

We have been boating for many years, traveling to many yacht clubs around the Great Lakes. This gives me a bit of a different perspective of the facility. The docks are difficult to access with a lot of current, only one staff member to assist us. After a long day of sailing we went to take our showers. My husband had no issue, the men's locker room had four nice showers. The women's only two, one with a torn plastic curtain. I never did get to use the shower as it was filled with tweens washing each other's hair. I asked if there were other facilities for dockers and was told no. As I stood in the hall waiting, one man made a snide remark about "always waiting for women". I suggested it was probably because there were only two women's showers compared to the four for men. He just laughed and said "we're an old club". An old boy's club would have been more accurate. The boat which is named "Old Money" was an accurate welcome to the club. They have old money because they don't believe in spending it equitably on the women's facilities. The food was at least editable.

Gorgeous place. You have to be a member or be able to sneak in on a family member's name (as we do). Weddings and special events here are beautiful. The Sunday brunch is a smorgasboard of deliciousness ranging from eggs to salmon to waffles to shrimp and crab to a whole room devoted to desserts. Dress codes are strictly enforced (no jeans, jackets required in the main ballroom). Prices are steep and all charges are added to the member's monthly bill. In the summer the pool is an oasis, though a crowded one. The dress code for the outside bar and grill is obviously much more relaxed, and they serve killer hummers.

One of my best friends was married at the GPYC, and there's a few things I thought about it. First, yes, you really couldn't ask for a more elegant setting for a wedding... except for the surrounding dock. Of course this would seem obvious (since it is a Yacht Club... right?), but not until we were behind the building was it visually apparent that this gem was multi-tasking as both a marina AND a catering facility! But still, there's a great arch on the dock where my friend and his wife had pictures taken; in the photos, it looked like they were out at sea, a really beautiful backdrop if you can get a skilled photographer who can work around the yachts. I can't say much about the food, because the bride and groom opted to have Andiamo come in instead of using GPYC facilities, so anything I'd have to say should be directed elsewhere. But the bartenders were staffed by GPYC. I can say they made the tastiest martini I've ever had at a wedding (and in the Pointes that's no surprise), and were more friendly (albeit, professional) than I expected them to be. The room we were in was absolutely gorgeous. The tables were set elegantly, the cloth chair covers matched the table coverings... I really can't describe it. You know what silverware and plates look like when you go into a diner? Think of the exact opposite of that... and that's GPYC.

The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club is one of the best kept secretes of the Metro Detroit area. Located on Lake St. Clair in beautiful Grosse Pointe Shores the Yacht Club is clearly visible when driving up Lakeshore Dr. from the other Grosse Pointe Communities. The Belle Tower is hard to miss from a distance and is a easy reference point for boaters on the lake to navigate back into shore. Amenities of the club, besides the marina itself, include a bowling alley open from September until May, several clay tennis courts, two lighted paddle tennis courts and a sailing center with a large fleet of club owned sail boats. The club has 3 restaurants: The Spinnaker, The Binnacle Room and the Main Dining Room. The main ballroom can serve food as well. The Main Dining room is clearly a wonderful to take someone special for a night that they will remember. The windows provide adequate sunlight and a wonderful view of the lake to offer you and your significant other a night to remember. The Binnacle is overlooks the Yacht Club's pool at Lake St. Clair and is perfect for Breakfast and Lunch. Catch a glimpse of the boaters out on the lake and the beautiful Sun making its way up. Spinnaker is a good place to come if it's Fall or Winter since there is a beautiful stone Fireplace which offers a beautiful setting during dinner to strike up a good conversation. The club also features out door tennis courts as well as two heated tennis courts with what they call a 'warming up' room to come in from the brisk air. I have not been to the bowling alley but have herd that it is a lot of fun and they do offer leagues. Membership is a bit pricey and I am not sure on all of the rules, I get in as a guest with a friends family. There is a dress code for the club as well as the restaurants so visit the website for all information.

Definitely not for weddings. Staff seemed clueless, broken glass on the dance floor was ignored then poorly cleaned. Venue treats vendors like crap.. would you like your photographer / videographer / DJ treated like second class ? These are just the people entrusted with your once in a lifetime memories!

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Case Studies

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Club Description: Established in 1914, the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (GPYC) has a longstanding reputation for excellence and has been consistently recognized by the Platinum Clubs of America as one of the nation’s premier yacht clubs. Situated on the shores of Lake St. Clair just 15 miles northeast of downtown Detroit, the club’s centerpiece is its 75,000 square foot clubhouse, one of the largest in the country for clubs of any kind. The GPYC grounds include a state-of-the-art swimming pool, tennis courts, paddle tennis, a bowling facility and a 268-well harbor. The club engages members of all ages by providing a vast array of services and programs designed to appeal to their shared interests and collective passion for the GPYC.

Club Background In 2009, the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club was just five years away from its centennial celebration. The recession had taken a significant toll on the U.S. economy, and changed American attitudes about discretionary spending. The state of Michigan had been hit particularly hard and by early 2010 unemployment in nearby Detroit was approaching 30 percent.

As economic pressure increased, clubs of all types and sizes were finding it increasingly difficult to attract and retain members. GPYC was not facing a crisis, but the board was committed to proactive, strategic leadership to ensure that the club would continue on a path of success and prosperity into its second century. During his 2012 term, Commodore Ronald Schaupeter offered this perspective on the club’s upcoming centennial: "It will be a time for looking back, for remembering all the great people and traditions and events and history that have made this club what it is," he said. "But it will also be a time for looking forward, for sharing our vision of the future, and for fulfilling our obligation to future generations to give them a yacht club that is as healthy and relevant as the one we joined years ago." 

In 2013, stewardship of the club was passed to Commodore William Vogel and the club’s commitment to a bright future continued. Vogel and GPYC General Manager Tom Trainor began the year by reaching out to Club Benchmarking for a complete analysis of the club’s financial and operational health. 

The Benchmarking Process After populating their Club Benchmarking account with fiscal year end data, GPYC was able to begin running comparisons and reports immediately. Club Benchmarking CEO Ray Cronin worked directly with Trainor and Vogel to present an in-depth benchmark analysis at the 2013 GPYC annual board retreat.

During the retreat, Cronin confirmed that overall the club was in relatively strong financial health. In terms of membership, he described the balance between the number of GPYC members and the amount members paid to belong to the club ( aka the dues engine ) as typical of an exclusive club with somewhat higher dues and lower member counts. The model could be deemed appropriate for GPYC as long as it was in keeping with the club’s culture and providing adequate dues revenue to fund the operation. With a clear understanding of their dues engine, the leadership of GPYC was better equipped to make decisions about maintaining or adjusting that model going forward.

The benchmarking process showed the club’s F&B performance was in line with industry norms. In keeping with the service expectations of a premier club, labor ratios were somewhat higher than other clubs. That finding was not a surprise or a cause for immediate action, but having the information on hand equipped the board with facts for any future discussions. The benchmarking process also provided context for certain variations in GPYC’s business model. For example, a portion of GPYC revenue is generated by a cell phone tower on club property.

One of the most important revelations for the board was seeing the actual impact of the facility itself on the club’s finances via Club Benchmarking graphic reports. Preliminary analysis showed Buildings & Maintenance expenses roughly 10 percent higher than industry norms, due in large part to the sheer size of the clubhouse.

Data-Driven Results Viewing their club through the lens of the Available Cash Model gave the board new insight into the significance (or insignificance) of various financial and operational issues. Instead of having individuals on the board with differing views of what was important and why, they were able to work together to identify opportunities for improvement and achieve alignment as a governing body based on a common frame of reference.

After reviewing the facts, it was clear to the GPYC board that planning for the future care and upkeep of the facility needed to be a top priority. As a foundation for that plan, the club’s finance committee drove the creation of an excel spreadsheet which projects capital expenditures 40 years into the future. They now have a powerful, fact-based tool which tracks the useful life and anticipated repair or replacement of each item on the club’s fixed asset list. As a compliment to that view of the future, Club Benchmarking reports and comparisons make it possible for GPYC board and management to monitor the club’s financial balance and identify new opportunities in real time.

General Manager Tom Trainor said that while Grosse Pointe Yacht Club is one of a kind in terms of atmosphere and culture, seeing the consistency of the Available Cash Model was an important lesson for the board. “Grosse Pointe Yacht is a special club, but this process has proven that as a business, we are not unique,” Trainor said. “There is a common business model among clubs which is consistent regardless of their individual personalities and that was really an eye opener for the board. The Available Cash Model very quickly illuminates the strategic issues – the strengths and opportunities for any club.”

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Contact 

Grosse pointe yacht club.

788 Lake Shore Road Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236 Ph: (313) 884-2500 Fax: (313) 884-7956

Harbor Coordinates

N 42 degrees -26' -05" W 082 degrees -52' -20"

Staff Members

Aaron wagner, general manager, assistant general manager, jim demasse, chief financial officer, executive chef, alex turner, cmm, harbor master, alexa coole, membership director, gregory martini, human resources director, marcus weldon, facilities director, maria dallas, catering director, mary primak, catering coordinator, jennifer benoit, marketing director, heather shock, graphic designer, vanessa nutting, front desk receptionist, cathy buffa, account payable, robin hauff, account receivable & member billing, peter wendzinski, athletics director, gordy woods, bowling director, christina noland, sailing director & trap shooting manager, christina wood, pastry chef, susan cavalli, dining room supervisor, tony giordano, maintenance supervisor, adam haggitt, caelin micks, day camp director, dmitri diakonov, tennis professional, elizabeth bourke, pool manager & swim team coach.

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

Our historic Clubhouse includes a ballroom, three dining rooms, meeting rooms and more

Our recently renovated harbor holds over 220 boats and includes a concierge service

Tennis, swimming, fitness center, bowling, sailing, trap shooting and more are available for our members

Kid's Programs

Weekend Kid's Klub, Day Camp, junior tennis, junior sailing, swimming lessons, swim team & more

Our annual events celebrate the Club’s rich history and annual holidays

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EXPERIENCE OUR CAMPUS WITHOUT THE COMMITMENT

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club has been recognized as a Distinguished Club by BoardRoom Magazine  for the past three years.

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Occupying a central location on Lake Saint Clair east of Detroit in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.  Crescent Sail Yacht Club (CSYC) is focused on the promotion and enjoyment of sailing. 

CSYC was founded in 1933 in the depths of the depression by a determined group of sailing and racing enthusiasts as a club for sailors of moderate means.   As a member managed working club, the experience and principles of the founding generation continue to influence Crescent.  Each member contributes workhours annually to improve and maintain the club.  The semiannual workdays that open and close the sailing season are major community events that bring Crescent together.  The connections that develop on these occasions frequently lead to friendships and sailing opportunities.   Numerous crews trace their origins to a workday.

Home to casual, racing and cruising sailors CSYC has something to offer sailors of all interests and skill sets.   Our fleet covers a wide spectrum of boats including dinghies, classic racing yachts, long distance cruisers, one design keelboats and olympic class multihulls.  Through the Crescent Sailing Association, we offer youth and adult sailing instruction to members, their families and the general public.  We also have club boats available for an annual fee for members who do not own a boat or who want to sail something different occasionally.   

Crescent hosts a regular weekly racing program, an annual regatta and is a member club of the Detroit Regional Yacht Racing Association (DRYA).  Additionally, members participate in local, regional, national and international sailing events. 

Off the water members organize regular social activities throughout the year.  These include several annual celebrations, bimonthly dinners, book club, knitting group and yoga classes.