Joining a Club with Spouse

[BigDaddyAl]

Before I start calling a bunch of clubs, I thought I'd reach out and try and tap the collective wisdom here. My wife and I are both interested in joining a club, and would like to both be able to go shoot without the other (we have young kids, so going together isn't feasible most of the time). She would also like to be able to take some of her sisters shooting as guests.

I see that some clubs, like Harvard, have associate or spouse memberships. Do those types of memberships give the associate/spouse free reign to go an use the facilities without the other?

Anyone have recommendations for cost-effective clubs to join with a spouse? We're primarily interested in handgun shooting for now, and a club that has an indoor 24/7 range would be preferred so that we can shoot year-round.

For location, we're located in Arlington, so the I-93 North of Boston to Route 2 corridor is the most convenient. I already checked with Mystic Valley since they are the most convenient, but they don't offer associate/spouse memberships.

 

[IPSC_DRL]

No additional fee at Hpokinton for a spouse.

Come on down. 24 hour 6-lane 50' indoor pistol range, pond, 100/200 yard rifle range, pistol pits, skeet, trap, sporting clays, etc.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

At Harvard Sportsmen's club associate members are $15/yr.

 

[BradM]

Southborough R&G is a family membership (spouse and kids). The only thing is only the primary person gets a vote in our democratic processes; but as far as shooting, your wife has the same right as you under the membership.

 

[MisterHappy]

When I joined Southborough, I asked how many times my wife could come out ( it was 3x/ yr. at my previous club) and got a WTF? look.....

"It's a family club!"

www.srgclub.com

Now, in all honesty my wife isn't a shooter....however the kids take up the slack!

 

[Len-2A Training]

It's South, not North, but Braintree R&P www.brp.org offers Spouse membership for an additional $25/year (total of $125/yr for both of you and only one initiation fee even if she joins later than you). Full rights to everything except voting privileges. Indoor ranges (2) are 24x7x365.

 

[eisenhow]

At Westford Sportsmens Club spouses and domestic partners are allowed to join for No initiation fee and 1/2 the annual dues.

 

[evolved_4G63]

To answer your question: At Harvard, you and your spouse (for the $15 "associate" membership) each get a gate card and can each shoot there on your own.

 

[FrugalFannie]

To answer your question: At Harvard, you and your spouse (for the $15 "associate" membership) each get a gate card and can each shoot there on your own.

correct. i believe associate members cannot vote though at the annual meeting. Dan might be along and clarify/correct that.

 

[M1911]

At the Wayland Rod & Gun Club, we have a Individual Memberships for $100 and Family Memberships for $160. With a family membership, you both get a membership card and key, and have full privileges. With a family membership you also have no limit on the number of times you can bring your kids. We have outdoor and indoor ranges. Our indoor range is not 24/7 -- but it is open 9 AM to 9 PM, 365 days a year.

You can find more details here: http://www.waylandgc.org

If the web site doesn't answer all of your questions, send me a PM. We don't have anywhere near the facilities of Harvard, but we're closer.

 

[BigDaddyAl]

Thanks everyone for your responses (reps inbound). If you'll indulge me on some follow-up questions. First, do the ranges you've recommended have restrictions on the # of times you can bring the same guest? I've searched each of the websites and can't find anything that references that. Like I said, my wife is interested in teaching her sisters how to shoot, since most of them have never done it before. I've heard of ranges with that type of restriction, and it sounds like that is what MisterHappy was referring to about his previous club.

Second (apart from Southborough and Wayland that have family memberships) for our children, would we sign them up for junior memberships if the club has that, or do we treat them like guests? For example, Harvard has junior memberships, but I didn't see anything on the website that indicates what the Jr. Membership really means. Our kids still young (all under 10), but we want to start introducing them to shooting. Thanks again!

 

[M1911]

Thanks everyone for your responses (reps inbound). If you'll indulge me on some follow-up questions. First, do the ranges you've recommended have restrictions on the # of times you can bring the same guest?

Wayland does -- 3 times per year. If you can get the milk for free, why buy the cow? In other words, if you are bringing the same guest to our club more than 3 times per year, they should join.

 

[Len-2A Training]

Thanks everyone for your responses (reps inbound). If you'll indulge me on some follow-up questions. First, do the ranges you've recommended have restrictions on the # of times you can bring the same guest? I've searched each of the websites and can't find anything that references that. Like I said, my wife is interested in teaching her sisters how to shoot, since most of them have never done it before. I've heard of ranges with that type of restriction, and it sounds like that is what MisterHappy was referring to about his previous club.

Second (apart from Southborough and Wayland that have family memberships) for our children, would we sign them up for junior memberships if the club has that, or do we treat them like guests? For example, Harvard has junior memberships, but I didn't see anything on the website that indicates what the Jr. Membership really means. Our kids still young (all under 10), but we want to start introducing them to shooting. Thanks again!

wrt BR&P, I'm going to plead limited knowledge here and suggest anyone who might need this info to make an informed decision, please send Email via the website asking those questions. www.brp.org

Not having children and having but one SIL who we only see on family occasions once every so many years and she'd be the last person that I'd ever think to ask to go to a gun club (or anywhere else), the answers have never been important to me to research.

I just checked the website and can't find definitive answers there.

Nowhere does BR&P show any limitation on number of visits.

I was told when I joined that a Spouse could always come with a member and shoot, no restriction on number of times. Spouse (even if licensed) would need to be supervised by member.

I'm guessing but I'd guess that immediate family would be treated like a Spouse wrt visitor policy. Plenty of members bring their children and some bring parents as well.

BR&P limits to one visitor/month unless you ask the Chief RO or other officer. I think you'll find them reasonable for reasonable requests.

If both H and W join (one as Spouse member), that would mean that 2 guests could be brought (one for each) w/o requesting permission.

As for children, there is an active Juniors program, but at any other time the person would have to supervised as a guest.

 

[BigDaddyAl]

Wayland does -- 3 times per year. If you can get the milk for free, why buy the cow? In other words, if you are bringing the same guest to our club more than 3 times per year, they should join.

Thanks M1911. I understand the rationale. I'm trying to figure out if that is common for most clubs. I can't in my wildest dreams imagine any of my wife's sisters ever owning a gun or joining a club, but I think a few of them might be interested in going a few times a year.

wrt BR&P, I'm going to plead limited knowledge here and suggest anyone who might need this info to make an informed decision, please send Email via the website asking those questions. www.brp.org

Thanks LesS. Very helpful information.

 

[jar]

Westford is officially 2x/year for guests, other than immediate family. Unofficially, no one keeps track. Harvard has no official rules, other than don't abuse the privilege of bringing guests.

In both cases, my rule of thumb is, if they have their LTC and their own guns and no other club membership, they need to join. If they only shoot your stuff, or primarily shoot elsewhere but join you occasionally, have at it.

Westford has a limit of 2 guests per member at a time. Harvard is as many as you can safely manage.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

Harvard has no restrictions that I'm aware of on the number of times a particular guest can attend with you. Generally their philosophy seems to be pretty easy going and they try to be inclusive.

I can't tell you much about Harvard's junior program except that it's very active and well supported. It seems to be a priority for the club.

 

[Jasper]

sending you a PM.

 

[Dan Hurley]

Harvard has Associate Memberships for spouses of full members, which provides full privileges for only $15.00 per year. The Junior Membership, for children of full members, does not provide full privileges or voting rights, but the kids love being an official part of the club. Junior Memberships are only $15 and are a great stocking stuffer. The real benefit occurs if your kids stick with it for a few years and become Student or Senior members. When they make the transition from Junior, they are already club members which precludes the need for a sponsor (if it happens that you don't want to sponsor your own offspring) and initiation fee (which is a reward for several years of slaving-away at the club in Mom or Dad's shadow).

Regarding guests, it is accurate that Harvard does not have specific restrictions. We have an awesome membership and we rely on their good judgement to determine the difference between "sharing the sport" and "time to step up." I really like Jeff's guideline;.. "my rule of thumb is, if they have their LTC and their own guns and no other club membership, they need to join."

 

[MisterHappy]

WRT Range vists by non-members - out rifle rangsis mombers-only in Oct & Nov ( Scheduled shoots are still open to all, generally) Trap and skeet are year round to guests. Not sure of the "X times: but the feeling is, if you're at the club a lot, and have a job, you should join!

SRGC Junior Members are at 16+, though there's no "real" reason to have it - they're still "family" until you're 18.

My younger son is very involved with the Club - He's on both the Trap Committee ( Deputy Chairman ) and Skeet committee (Traitor! ), and is considered in most respects a "regular" member. We try to get the kids very interested with as much as possible- Junior Trap; Junior Rifle; Kids' Xmas party and Kids' fishign derby.

Other clubs (not slamming any here, just making an observation from a bunchof visits) often have a different vibe, WRT kids....some "oldsters" don't want to watch the @#$%^ langusge, etc. Some clubs are more "social" than shooting.

Best to check around, boots on the ground, to get a real feel!

 

[BigDaddyAl]

I just wanted to post an update to close the circle on this thread. Thanks everyone for your replies. My wife and I joined Harvard tonight (along with a ton of other new members). Thanks to Brent for sponsoring us and to everyone else we've met over the past few weeks. We're excited to be part of the club.