CHENNAI: The receptionist at the Gandhinagar Club refers to its members by first name, and welcomes everyone with a smile. He helps them sign in as he converses with them on their work and family. The atmosphere of the club is one of old familiarity shared between friends.
Located on 4th Main Road, Gandhinagar, the club was established in 1951 near the banks of Adyar River. After undergoing a renovation in 2016, the club has now adopted a sleek and modern theme, with a touch of tradition.
The lobby has a white wall with a painting of trees and people drawn with matte black paint. The lobby leads to the deck cafe, where members sweating from playing tennis at the flood-lit synthetic courts snack on sandwiches and sip milkshakes. The three tennis courts are occupied with younger and older enthusiasts alike, all day.
Among the other sports facilities is the shuttle court and the table tennis table. The swimming pool area, a cool and damp environment, is filled with the sounds of members splashing about. Members jump into the 12-foot diving pool and kids waddle about in the children’s pool as the coaches look on. The sounds of people playing squash at the squash courts can be heard from the entrance. The billiards room has an old-school, aristocratic atmosphere, as members softly converse with each other and play leisurely. The gym, at the basement next to the well-stocked library, offers cardio and weight training facilities.
“It’s like a second home for me. I’ve gone to the club for as long as I can remember. Now, I use the facilities at the club almost every day. It has a sense of comfort because it’s my own space,” said Ashwin Venkatraman. The 29-year-old got his individual membership eight years ago, but visited the club even before, u0nder his father’s membership. The cricket enthusiast avails the club’s sporting and outdoor facilities with great gusto.
Upstairs, members lounge at the bar, watching sports or the news on the many television screens available. The restaurant has many continental, Indian and Chinese delicacies for their members. After renovation, it features wooden, rustic theme for a more classy and relaxed atmosphere.
The lawn is a large with outdoor furniture. The club regularly screens new movies, here, which brings large groups of movie buffs and pop culture enthusiasts during the cool hours of the evening. Perhaps some of the most well-known events at the Gandhinagar Club are its New Year’s and Diwali parties, which the club committee holds every year. Hundreds of members flock to the club during the festivities, which feature an elaborate firecracker show. Members sit at tables on lawn and sip drinks as they enjoy being in each other’s presence.
Membership
A four year membership at the Gandhinagar Club costs `4 lakh and can be opened through the year. The permanent membership costs `8 lakh, with registration opening only once in five-eight years.
(This is the second in the series of articles on clubs in Chennai)