Page 33 - Sphere No.16 (Apr 2006)

THE RISE OF THE CLUBHOUSE
NOT SO LONG AGO the word clubhouse used to
conjure up visions of businessmen adjourning to
“the 19th hole” for a few drinks after a round of
golf. How times change.While the golfers are still knocking
back gin and tonics in the bar, the clubhouse has moved on to
become an established part of the residential housing scene.
The demand for clubhouse facilities in housing develop-
ments started in the 1980s in Hong Kong. First came ba-
sic swimming pools but soon housebuyers were demanding
more and Hutchison has led the way in the creation of resi-
dential properties with the added-value of lifestyle facilities.
Developments such as South Horizons at the western
tip of Ap Lei Chau commands fabulous sea views and of-
fers home-buyers use of the acclaimed and exclusive South
Horizons Residents Club, which includes a gymnasium,
temperature-controlled indoor and outdoor pools, tennis
courts, golf simulator and children’s playgrounds.
The new generation of clubhouse is represented by
Rambler Crest at TsingYi. Innovative facilities include a 200
metre outdoor landscape swimming pool, the longest of
its kind in Hong Kong, exclusive car rental service, chefs
for private dining functions and secured storage for extra
belongings. Members can also enjoy the use of three club-
houses – the Rambler Club, Horizon Cove in Zhuhai and
LagunaVerona in Dongguan.
Laguna City in Kowloon and Belvedere Garden, close to
Tsuen Wan town centre, also offer extensive recreational
activities.With the added benefit of large shopping malls on
the doorstep, residents barely need to leave home to enjoy
all that life offers.
In Mainland China, the growth of the luxury residence has
been rapid, and Hutchison has been at the forefront of that
growth, developing properties in most major cities including
Beijing,Tianjin, Changchun, Shanghai,Qingdao, Xian, Chongq-
ing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Changsha, Guangzhou, Shenzhen,
Dongguan and Zhuhai. As China’s rapid economic growth
shows no sign of abating the demand for luxury properties
with superior clubhouse facilities will continue to rise too.
SPHERE 31
residences with clubhouses, while in Hong Kong buyers are usu-
ally families and slightly older couples.
“Young professional couples in Hong Kong like to belong to
clubs and gyms where they can be seen,” he explained. “Fami-
lies are looking for a living environment where their children
can enjoy swimming and sports facilities in a safe environment
that is right on their doorstep. Busy parents don’t want to have
to ferry children back and forth to outside facilities.” Indeed,
many parents in the developments that Mr Chan manages have
expressed the hope that having sporting and health facilities
available at home would encourage their children to develop
good fitness habits for life.
The rise of the clubhouse enables residents to enjoy a better
standard of living and facilitates maintaining a happy, healthy
lifestyle by putting all the facilities they could possibly need
right on their doorstep. More and more people realise that join-
ing the club makes sense.