Fantastic Fourth
The Club At Sonterra Celebrates in Style
By Amy Morgan
"This year America will celebrate her 250th birthday! Everyone wants to mark the special occasion with some wholesome family activity. You might be aware that The Club At Sonterra hosts a spectacular fireworks display on the Fourth of July that can be seen from vantage points across Stone Oak. But you might not realize that the fireworks are only the final flourish to an entire day of festivities at the Club.
Members and their guests can start the holiday morning with special golf, tennis, or pickleball play, then join the kids for a swim party at the 25-meter lifeguarded pool complete with wading area for the tots. There’ll be contests, coin dives, and a DJ spinning tunes and calling games. When hunger strikes, patrons can order traditional holiday fare like burgers or hot dogs poolside at the Break Point Bar & Grill or head to the 19th Hole for a red, white and blue BBQ buffet.
Later in the afternoon, Club staff will organize All-American family fun including potato sack races, bounce houses and face painters. And no Fourth of July would be complete without popcorn and ice cream, said Nathan Gillespy, who has been running the event for the past eight years – even before he took over as General Manager two years ago.
For many members, the annual Fourth of July party has become part of their family tradition, Nathan added. People lay towels on the grass by the driving range as early as 3 p.m. to reserve their spots for the evening’s festivities. Patriotic music begins at 5 p.m., and the 20-minute fireworks extravaganza starts at 9:15 p.m. after the sun sets.
“It’s something we look forward to every year,” said Harold Oliver, who took over as Chairman of The Club At Sonterra’s Board in January. His family has been part of The Club At Sonterra since 2012. “The Fourth of July event is more personal than going to an amusement park. It's well-attended but not overcrowded. It highlights the family focus of The Club At Sonterra. We will have 500 people come out, but we all know each other. Our kids are rolling around in the grass playing together. That’s the new atmosphere for Sonterra. We can sit and relax, mingle with other members and get to know their families.”
As you consider how your family plans to celebrate this milestone holiday, you might realize you don’t want to travel across town to city-sponsored events or struggle with the crowds. It’s not too late to join The Club At Sonterra and be included in all the fun. The Club At Sonterra is conveniently located right in Stone Oak – no fighting traffic or worrying about a long journey home. Parking is free, plentiful, and right outside the front door. And it might be the best kept secret in Stone Oak that you don’t have to live inside Sonterra’s gates to become a member.
And there’s plenty of time in July and August to enjoy summer activities at The Club At Sonterra. The swimming pool remains lifeguarded through Labor Day weekend, and although the swim team is winding down, swim lessons and tennis camps for all ages are still available.
Contact Debbie Gonzaba at 210-483-4292 to schedule a personalized tour and see how your family will reap the benefits of community and connection – on the Fourth of July – and throughout the year.
