Long time member of this "hidden gem" (one of its marketing taglines) tucked away in Glenview…read more
Think of Valley Lo as a low/no-pretense country club that is SUPER family friendly and even family ORIENTED. Wonderful dining -- casual attire but a nice menu; phenomenal service, and plenty of TVs and an activity room available to keep kids occupied. Tennis. Paddle tennis (one of the biggest programs in the US apparently, with a relatively recently rebuilt paddle hut that is spacious, well appointed, and has a regular bartender). A well appointed and maintained fitness center with personal training, classes, massage, and all of what you'd expect at a fitness club. A four lane 25-yard swimming pool that is surprisingly underutilized much of the time...and also features a kids' swim team that has become competitive among the North Shore programs. 18 holes of par 3 golf -- fun, family friendly, and again, without the pretense or expense of a "big time" golf club...and still with leagues, lessons, and events.
The real showpieces of the Club, though, are the beach and lake open from Memorial Day through Labor Day (sometimes a little earlier and a little later depending upon weather). Sailing. Kayaks. Pedal boats. Paddle boarding. Swimming (some triathletes train by swimming around the lake -- it's about a mile around). Catch and release fishing (mostly for the kids). An adults-only area. A super casual beach cafe. Unsurprisingly, servers who'll deliver soft and adult beverages to your chair. A recently launched outdoor bar that complements the outdoor dining, weather permitting, in the warm weather, with lovely views of the lake and surrounding areas.
Along with that, there are myriad family oriented and adults-only events, from bingo nights (really -- and they're a riot) to a "turn back the clock" New Year's Eve party where "midnight" is nine pm to the expected holiday events (gingerbread houses, caroling dinners, St. Pat's, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.). Breathtakingly good and popular 4th of July fireworks (usually on the 3rd) on the back nine of the golf course -- this typically draws over 1000 people and, along with many of the other events, features kids' activities like games, small rides, face paining, etc.
Among the biggest draws is the youth sports camp which is as brilliant as it is well executed. Drop the kids in the morning; pick up in the afternoon. They get exposure to a variety of activities and sports and get fed. Counselors tend to be teenagers who are well trained and lead the events; the camp is run by a seasoned professional whose approach is to sneak in ideas of character and sportsmanship along the way.
The clubhouse and grounds (golf course, beachfront) are great spots for a wide variety of events including corporate outings, family parties, prom dinners/photos, and weddings.
Through the years, Valley Lo has maintained itself well and made significant investments to keep up and improve its clubhouse, athletic center, paddle and pickleball facilities, and now golf course. It's welcoming and inclusive -- while it is a private club that requires sponsors, it's not a draconian and super selective process like some country clubs, and tends to welcome all comers. Economics are considerably more attractive than big time golf clubs as well.
We've been members for more than 15 years, raised our kids here, and have come to know and love the team ("staff" always seems demeaning to this reviewer) and the membership.
If you're not a swanky golf club person but prefer something less stuffy and more fun and family oriented, Valley Lo should seriously be on your list to check out.