Brand New Look

Tabletops in the dining space at Polo G&CC honor the club’s brand and tradition while providing modern touches.

At Polo Golf & Country Club in Cumming, Ga., sharing a meal with family and friends is an important part of the club’s culture. And when the club changed ownership in 2014, it was clear that its dining area needed some updating.

The new owners wanted to balance modernizing the facility (and keeping it consistent with the club’s branding) with creating a welcoming space where members could continue to enjoy their traditions, says General Manager David Bond. That meant upgrading to a contemporary decorating motif while adding furnishings and touches that kept the space warm and inviting.

Central to this objective were the new tables, table settings and seating that the club introduced. At the center of the renovated dining room, a round centerpiece table topped with light-colored marble is now flanked by oversized wingback host chairs in a brilliant orange shade. The table is used every day, Bond says; members will often reserve it if they have a special occasion or want a meal to feel special. When the club hosts special events, the centerpiece table is often used to display ice sculptures or food.

The surrounding tables feature a mix of square, round and rectangular cabana-style tops. The different shapes add interest to the space, Bond says. The seating is a mix of modern wood chairs, wood benches and soft, booth-like benches. All of the tables have built-in power outlets, Bond notes, so members can charge laptops, smartphones and other electronics while they’re eating.

Multiple styles, colors and shapes of tabletops with a variety of seating add interest to the new dining space at Polo G&CC.

Polo G&CC also invested in all new china and flatware for the space. “We’re using all white dishes, which shows your food in a nice clean way,” Bond notes. Additionally, the handles on the new silverware have a hammered look that’s popular with modern consumers.

The club departed from tradition in two important ways. First, it decided to forego tablecloths in the dining room. “Tablecloths have more of a fine-dining and old-school feel,” Bond says. “That’s fine for some dining rooms, but in a space like we have, where there’s a lot of energy and a more modern feel, it really doesn’t fit.”

Instead of the clear water glasses and white mugs found in most dining establishments, Polo G&CC now uses cobalt water goblets and cobalt coffee mugs with the club logo. Dark blue and white are also predominant colors in the room, so the blue glasses tie back to its branding.

The dining room has two other thoroughly modern focal points, Bond notes. An oversized wine rack near the host stand has clear doors on every side, giving members a clear view of the bottles inside. And a set of rolling barn doors provides some separation between the dining room and the bar.

“Even though we don’t have polo games, we added some rustic touches,” Bond says. “The cabana tables are separated by leather straps. Some of the lights are outlined in rope. One of the tables has a map of the surrounding pastures on it. It’s not ‘in your face’ equestrian.”

The renovations are part of what’s driven membership growth at Polo G&CC in the last two years, Bond says. “The club is really vibrant now,” he says. “It’s got a great personality and a really nice energy. You can feel the difference from a few years ago.”

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