In recent years, more private clubs have identified member behavior as one of their most pressing challenges. A recent National Club Association webinar on the subject drew a record-breaking 420 live attendees—a clear indicator that this issue is widespread and urgent.

Club dynamics shifted during the post-pandemic boom. In the past, member sponsors were more accountable for the individuals they brought in, clubs conducted more thorough vetting, and orientation programs helped set clear expectations. But during the surge in demand, many clubs eased their processes. Onboarding became less personal, rules were relaxed and behavioral issues increased.

According to Tom Wallace of KOPPLIN, KUEBLER & WALLACE, “The number one responsibility of the board and GM is to protect the culture of the club.” To uphold that culture, many clubs are now formalizing their disciplinary processes, modernizing policies and empowering specific grievance committees with clear protocols to address behavior consistently and fairly.

The path toward better member behavior starts with establishing clear rules and expectations:

1. Develop a member code of conduct that clearly defines acceptable and unacceptable behaviors for members, guests and staff.
2. Ensure every new member participates in orientation where rules, standards and the code of conduct are reviewed.
3. Require acknowledgement from members by having them sign off that they understand and agree to the behavioral standards and expectations.
4. Promote a positive club culture by ensuring all club leaders and managers model respectful and ethical behavior.
5. Encourage feedback through safe channels for staff and members to report incidents.

Wallace emphasizes that once the expectations are clear, strong policies should be implemented to ensure there is zero-tolerance for harassment, discrimination or misconduct. A designated member oversight committee (such as a grievance committee) should be empowered to oversee conduct, address any concerns promptly and hold members accountable. This committee should be made up of carefully selected, well-respected members with diverse backgrounds who operate with impartiality, transparency, confidentiality, consistency and accountability. Equally as important, Wallace recommends an incident reporting system be established to ensure all members and employees know how and to whom they should report an incident.

Notable – October 2025