3 min read
Being new can be hard. Whether it’s your first day of school, going to a new job, or buying a new home, it’s natural to feel uneasy and unsure of how and where you fit into a community.
The Foster family experienced this when they moved to the Birmingham area three years ago. Jeffrey and Jamie Foster have three children. Jeffrey is a lifelong golfer and liked the idea of passing his love of the game onto his children. That drew them to Greystone and inspired their decision to become Members.
“Within the first week I’d been invited to join a golfing group,” says Jeffrey. Saying yes to that invitation led to the chance to make connections with another 10 to 15 Members right away.
Get in the Game
Jamie plays tennis and also received plenty of invitations to get out on the court. Greystone Members often seek out new Members to help them get acclimated and feel welcomed, just one of the qualities that makes Greystone so special. And if no matter your game of choice, Greystone’s pros and instructors will quickly get to know you by name and find ways for you to enjoy your sport even more.
“We were immediately drawn into the golf and tennis aspects of the community,” Jeffrey says.
For golfers like Jeffrey, Greystone is home to the Blackburn Golf Academy, led by 2020 PGA National Teacher and Coach of the Year, Mark Blackburn. The academy is a state-of-the-art facility with world class training technology. If getting your children into golf is a goal, Greystone is a great place to do it. The Fosters’ two daughters take private lessons and participate in the weekly Member activities organized by the Blackburn Academy staff.
“Golf is a sport that you can enjoy for life and there’s no better start time for my children than when they’re young,” says Jeffrey. “I love the sportsmanship and competitive nature it instills in my daughters.”
Be Ready to Make Friends
Even if golf or tennis isn’t a priority for you, Greystone Members will look for ways to roll out the welcome mat whenever they can. One example is the Greystone Ambassador Program, where current Members meet Members-to-be and help welcome them to the community.
“The mixture of events is one of my favorite things about the Club,”Jeffrey says. “Greystone owns the social aspect. There’s always something different. It’s not just golf. It’s not just tennis.”
Jeffrey advises staying informed by reading the weekly emails and quarterly newsletter. Following Greystone on social media also helps Members keep track of all the opportunities to connect with the community.
As a Member, you will enjoy plenty of organized fun. But it is the spontaneous connections that arise from the gracious Southern hospitality of our Members that make Greystone’s culture unique.
When the Fosters bring their kids to dinner at the Club it’s only a matter of seconds before they spot friends and run over to connect with them.
“I think it’s a great community of families for your children to grow up with,” says Jamie. “The friends that they make at the Club will be lifelong relationships. Whether it’s golf, tennis, or anything in between, I would encourage folks to join and get involved. The Club is so receptive to children and there are so many opportunities for them to get out and make new friends.”
Jeffrey thinks about Membership at Greystone as a multi-generational thing. “My hope is that my kids will remember all the good times they had,” Jeffrey says, “and they will one day even be able to create memories of their own.”
