Garden State Yacht Club Enhances Recreation On Lake Hopatcong

[drops]For the past 60 years, area residents have been members of the Garden State Yacht Club, a member owned- and operated- club, in Hopatcong, where they enjoy swimming, boating, tennis, dining, dancing and more. While some members live on the lake, the vast majority of members come from nearby towns, including Livingston, Rockaway and Roxbury Townships.

Equity Members enjoy the whole complement of club events and facilities, taking full advantage of the club’s recreational and social activities. These include the newly redecorated clubhouse, heated swimming pool, tennis courts, children’s playground and dock space for 55 boats. Social activities include dinner and dancing, parties, deck dining, entertainment, lectures, and trips and other events throughout the year.

New this year, the Associate Membership is a non-ownership and value-priced alternative. Associate Members are entitled to the use of the pool, locker rooms, tennis courts, playground and optional dock slips, and enjoy weekend poolside food service and the frequent weekend poolside entertainment.

Whether outdoor interests run to tennis, boating (power, sail, or kayaking), card games, shuffleboard with the kids, or just relaxing, the Garden State Yacht Club has activities for everyone. In season, the pool is open daily.

A boat is not needed to be a member of the club. Members with boats are more than happy to take others out on the lake. The marina hours are unlimited, with ample lighting for evening boating. A convenient tram provides transportation from the rear of the clubhouse to lakeside. The men’s and women’s locker rooms, with showers and well-appointed dressing areas, make it easy to spend the entire day and evening at the club.

Children are, of course, welcomed! There is a playground with swings and climbing apparatus. Children of all ages are permitted in the pool, which has a special, roped-off toddler’s area, with easy step access and shallow depth. Even infants not yet toilet-trained are permitted, provided that they wear “waterproof” diapers.

Equity Members participate in club activities throughout the year. In addition to the New Year’s Eve party, they enjoy Super Bowl Sunday, a Valentine’s Dance, Halloween Party, and Theater Parties, cabarets and comedy nights.

Summer weekends for Equity Members begin with Friday night entertainment that varies from jazz concerts to wine tastings. Saturday nights are the time for dining, dancing, theme parties, and entertainment. Sunday evening is capped off with a poolside barbeque, which is also open to Associate Members.

In season, activities for Equity Members are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with ladies’ luncheons every Tuesday afternoon in season. The luncheons offer a variety of programs from cards to book reviews.

Additionally, lunch, dinner, and cocktails on the clubhouse deck, with its breath-taking, elevated views of Lake Hopatcong, are reserved for Equity Members and their guests.

For those who enjoy having fun in the company of warm, congenial and caring friends, the Garden State Yacht Club welcomes new members. For more information or to set up a tour, call  973-398-0022; go to gsyc.org; or on Facebook.